Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has said Scotland has a significant role to play in the European Commission's new marine energy forum.

The Ocean Energy Forum, comprising of governments, regional directors and industry chief executives from across Europe, will coordinate an approach to dealing with the challenges facing the offshore energy sector. The Forum will also produce a strategy to speed up development.

In terms of energy power, Scotland boasts 10% of Europe's wave power potential and 25% of its tidal power, as well as being an important leader in the development of marine energy technologies.

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Commenting on the announcement, Minister Ewing said: "The establishment of the Ocean Energy Forum is a positive development, one which the Scottish Government has lobbied for over the last year.

"Scotland possesses world-leading offshore energy expertise. Working with the European Commission and Ocean Energy Europe, we are well-placed to make a vital contribution to the forum and Europe's green energy ambitions.

"Our country is blessed with a wealth of natural resources and we have a quarter of Europe's tidal and offshore wind capacity and a tenth of its wave power.

"Scotland has an astounding potential for renewable energy and it is only with the full powers of independence that this potential can be fully realised."

The Commission proposes to draw up a European Industrial Initiative for Ocean Energy, based on the forum's conclusions, by 2017.

(JP/IT)