LARNACA, Cyprus — Officials from nine southern European Union (EU) member countries said they're focused on harnessing offshore wind and solar energy to try to turn the Mediterranean region into a renewable energy (RE) hub and stave off the risks of climate change.

The energy ministers of Cyprus, Slovenia and Malta, Croatia's economy minister, as well as officials from Greece, Italy, France, Portugal and Spain, said in a joint statement that they are working on setting up joint RE projects across borders without the red tape that could potentially repel investors. They called on the European Commission to head a new study on the region's RE potential, on which 'informed decision-making and concrete action' will be taken to move ahead with green energy projects. The statement came at the MED9 Energy Ministerial Meeting in Larnaca.