New Developments in Greece-Cyprus-Israel Еnergy Cooperation

Israel has asked that its own gas fields be considered for selection in the transfer of Eastern Mediterranean natural energy resources via the East Med Pipeline, as well as in the construction of the pipeline itself, Environment, Energy and Climate Minister Yiannis Maniatis told the ANA-MPA on Wednesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference for EU energy ministers on "Building a Euro-Mediterranean Energy Bridge" that was held in Rome on Tuesday and Wednesday, Maniatis referred to major developments in energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel.

Noting that he had met on Tuesday night with Cyprus Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, Israeli Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom and European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic, Maniatis said that a "new page" was being written in relation to energy in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"During our collaboration, the Israeli minister asked and we agreed that his country directly participate in the East Med Pipeline," Maniatis said, adding that, with Lakkotrypis and Shalom, they indicated their intention to immediately organise a meeting in Brussels for "this very important initiative for energy security in Europe, in which we wish Italy to participate. This new pipeline ensures a new source of supply, which are the gas fields of Cyprus and Israel."