Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou in an interview with SKAI TV on Friday spoke of the invalidity of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum following reports of Turkish research between Libya and Crete as well as for the electrical interconnection between Greece and Cyprus.

As the minister emphasised: “Our country’s policy is not determined by reports, but by actions in the field”

He further noted that “over the past six months, Greece has advanced the international tender for the offshore blocks south of Crete, which ends on September 10, and we hope for positive results. We have moved forward with the Maritime Spatial Planning that had been pending for years, and we have also advanced the marine parks”.

“The truth is that our country’s leading role in the energy sector in the Eastern Mediterranean has been strengthened. We play a pivotal role in the interconnections to the North” he said adding that U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright will visit Greece in November. “On both sides of the Atlantic, it is acknowledged that our country has an upgraded energy role. It is only natural that this enhanced role provokes reactions from those who see the balance of power shifting” he stressed.

“One thing is certain: the European Council of June explicitly states the baselessness of Turkiye-Libya Memorandum. Second, an international tender is underway, and there is initial interest from major companies. Third, at this moment, American natural gas is being transported through our country to the northern states. All these factors have objectively enhanced Greece’s energy role.”

The minister then referred to the electrical interconnection with Cyprus, noting that “it is a complex project which, as the Prime Minister said, will proceed.”

“It is an important project for the EU as well, and therefore the EU is monitoring it. I hope that we will make progress there soon, too”.