Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America AEA/EEP The Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America (EEP) launched during the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 by the Government of Finland and Central American countries has attained efficient project centered operati
ng principles. Following the evaluation of the first phase of the project (2003-2005) the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs continued the funding of the project for the 2006-2009 period. Austria joined the EEP in 2007 and the EU in 2010 contributing a s
ignificant addition to the public financing of the partnership. The Dominican Republic joined in 2007 bringing the number of Central American partner countries up to eight. The 3rd phase of the partnership is being implemented during 2010-14. The overall o
bjective is to foster sustainable development in the region through improved access to modern reliable and affordable energy services increased energy security and reduction of negative environmental externalities contributing thus to reduce poverty and di
minish the effect of climate change in the energy sector. The EEP has reached a position as one of the major interlocutors in the region when dealing with the technical and political aspects related to the development of renewable energy projects of a cert
ain scale (targeted towards Small- and Mediumsized Enterprises mainly in rural areas). Around 280 pilot projects and feasibility studies have been completed.