With a strong emphasis on respect for international law and the sovereign rights of states over their natural resources, the Ministerial Meeting of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), held in Washington under the Greek presidency, reaffirmed the participants’ commitment to advancing a different model of cooperation for the future of the Eastern Mediterranean.

A model that moves away from the logic of unilateral actions and confrontational behavior and is instead grounded in shared interests, agreed rules, and respect for international law, principles that increasingly underpin the institutional cooperation frameworks convening this week across the United States. In the joint communiqué, adopted unanimously by the participating members, it is explicitly recognized that the development of natural gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean must take place within the framework of international law.

 The gatherings bring together governments, international organizations and private-sector stakeholders, highlighting both the United States’ leadership in fostering regional partnerships and Greece’s increasingly influential role in shaping the region’s energy and strategic agenda.

According to Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou, the significance of these initiatives extends well beyond the energy sector, as they contribute to the emergence of a new framework for regional cooperation. “We are building a framework of cooperation founded on full respect for international law, mutually accepted values, and commercial rules-a framework that strengthens stability and discourages unilateral and aggressive actions. Our common goal is energy security and the prosperity of our peoples,” he noted.

Against the backdrop of profound geopolitical turmoil and ongoing conflicts, particular significance can be attached to the fact that ministers and senior representatives from Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Italy, together with the United States and the World Bank, sat around the same table within the framework of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, which convened at the ministerial level for the first time in nearly three years. As Minister Papastavrou emphasized, Greece’s presidency of the Forum highlights the leading role that the country has come to play in the energy landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean.

It is worth recalling that the East Mediterranean Gas Forum acquired the status of an international organization in 2021, with headquarters in Cairo. It was established to coordinate regional efforts surrounding the development and utilization of the Eastern Mediterranean’s energy resources. In recent years, however, its agenda has expanded considerably. Today, it serves as a platform for dialogue among governments, regulatory authorities, international organizations, and private-sector actors, promoting the development of joint projects, greater energy connectivity, and deeper regional energy integration.

Source: Ekathimerini.com