It is in the strategic interest of Greece and Israel to create an energy corridor connecting Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Europe, Environment and Energy Minister, Stavros Papastavrou, and Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen, said during a teleconference held on Monday.
According to the relevant announcement by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure:
The two ministers discussed developments in matters of common energy and geopolitical interest, as the two countries share common goals for development and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, with energy playing a decisive role.
Papastavrou and Cohen confirmed the geopolitical importance of the close cooperation between Greece-Israel-Cyprus. The Israeli minister, on whose initiative the communication took place, informed Papastavrou on the results of the meeting held the previous day between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. At the same time, they agreed that it is in the strategic interest of both countries to create an energy corridor connecting Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Europe, which will provide energy security, especially given the geopolitical instability in the Middle East and beyond. This energy corridor is part of the broader strategy of geo-economic interconnection between India, the Middle East and Europe, known as IMEC.
Cohen then invited Papastavrou to visit Israel, an invitation which the Greek minister accepted.
On December 23, 2024, an intergovernmental agreement was signed between the competent Ministries of Greece and Israel to promote regional energy cooperation between the two countries, further enhancing regional stability.