Home / Comment / Opinion
Greece on the energy map with the support of big players
Athanasios Ellis
There has been a serious uptick in activity concerning the energy sector in the broader region in the past few months and Greece has a potentially pivotal role to play in developments.
This week, the foreign ministers of Greece and Cyprus will meet in Athens and then travel to Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, in his capacity as foreign affairs chief. Apart from the broader framework of cooperation in other areas, energy will be high on the agenda.
US energy giant ExxonMobil is planning to start exploratory drilling in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone, and in the face of Turkey's unpredictable behavior Nicosia is counting on the support of Israel, which it sees not just as a major player in the area and a member of the tripartite alliance with Greece, but also as a bridge with the United States, even more so thanks to the close personal relationship between the Israeli prime minister and the American president.
Apart from the drilling in Cyprus's EEZ, another important piece of the East Mediterranean energy puzzle is how natural gas from Israel, Cyprus and possibly Egypt will be transported to European markets. Regarded as something of a chimera until recently, the construction of the underwater EastMed pipeline is now being explored as a serious option, even more so now that it has earned the support of the European Commission.
This project was at the focus of talks during a meeting at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) between the energy ministers of Greece, Israel, Serbia and Bulgaria and the US deputy secretary of energy. Cyprus and Romania will soon be added to this unofficial five-state cooperation scheme.
Beyond the possibility of natural gas being transported from the Eastern Mediterranean to Italy via Greece, another possibility is being explored as a possible alternative and that is getting the gas to Greece and then to Central Europe via the Balkan route.
The plans are very serious and the players significant. Things are moving in a certain direction. The American ambassador in Athens has made the promotion of the ports of Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli in northern Greece a top priority.
All of these developments are thrusting Greece onto center stage. This is no longer just empty talk or wishful thinking. All the signs are pointing to a strong Greek entry on the energy map, with the blessings of key international players.
As Greece finds itself at a crossroads as far as the regional energy puzzle is concerned, the next steps demand that the responsible politicians are of high quality and are supported by technocrats with the necessary know-how, experience and skills.
Golden Dawn voters, women and Mitsotakis
The new government, image and symbolism
Mitsotakis, expectations and the need for unity
The others were Merkel's puppets, we were just naive
Opinion: Latest Articles
No time for mixed signals
We are entering a very thorny patch in Greek-Turkish relations
Alexis Papachelas
18/07/2019 | OPINION
Cyprus, diplomacy and the dizzying gas effect
Those in power should know that trust is the essence of diplomacy
Yiannis Kafkarides
Interpreting demographics in New Democracy electoral result
The extent of betrayal
Connecting the dots between yesterday's amnesty and today's immunity from prosecution
Recovering lost ground
This government has to succeed
Which way will SYRIZA go?
A well-structured opposition is something we should all wish for
Both sides should be given credit for the civilized political discourse
It relates to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' ability to forge a sense of unity and social peace
A wise verdict
The electoral outcome also showed that New Democracy now has two battles on its hands
Partition starting to show
Foreign reporting on missile raises eyebrows but humiliation does not end there
Did Tsipras' inexperience justify his stance?
Greek elections: The main questions
Greece heads to the polls on Sunday
The liberal narrative and the risks
The new liberal narrative must be protected and shielded because Greek society is exhausted and wary
A top athlete, a rare human being, a true Greek
Antetokounmpo is a rare role model
When necessity becomes history
Bidding farewell to Demetris Christofias
They say that history repeats itself as a farce
The Trump factor
There has been much ado around Greek-Turkish relations, a result of sensationalism and ignorance about the substance of ...
What's with all the horrifying details?
Media sensationalism in serial killer case points to how foreigners are being treated
Eleni Xenou
The only settlement option left
Keeping score on Cyprus and energy as hardball is set to take place in Fukuoka
Sixteen years on, frustration with Ankara resurfaces
Turkey has proved a difficult ally for Washington in the past two decades
The truisms of Mr Pamboridis
Criticism offered on DISY's low points sheds light onto issues that need to come to light
Over the coming weeks
Washington ready to make moves but warns it is a two-way street
Prudence and moderation
Greece is going through one of the most toxic pre-election periods it has experienced in decades
Anastasiadescare
When it comes to policy making, politicians should be judged based on the results of their actions not their intentions
Let us put our minds to work
Politics cannot continue to resemble a variety show
The silent vote
"It's better if the result exceeds your expectations"
Undiplomatic behavior
In democracies governments change
They are not Europe
Hope will save the day, not populist rhetoric that flirts with racism and fear
Marina Economides
Knock it down and rebuild it from scratch
Requiem for an establishment