The Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr Nicos Kouyialis, addressing yesterday the Greek Energy Forum in London, underlined the need to protect the Mediterranean Sea from the repercussions of the hydrocarbon search and exploration activities, as a means of cooperation and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Minister Kouyialis informed the attendees that his meeting with the Israeli Environment Minister, on the sidelines of the Summit of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean, last December in Constantinople, has almost finalized the conclusion of an agreement with Israel on the protection of the environment. The agreement’s main focus is the tackling of the pollution that might result from the search and exploration of hydrocarbons in the two countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). He also noted that the protection of the Mediterranean, which is a common component for the prosperity of the countries of the region, may constitute a factor of peace and stability.
Lastly, he pointed out that Cyprus, due to its geopolitical location and the excellent neighbouring relations it maintains with the countries of the region, is determined to act as a catalyst and to liaise with the aim of protecting the Mediterranean Sea from the repercussions of the hydrocarbon search and exploration activities. Within this framework, Cyprus will intensify its efforts to become a regional cooperation hub for the protection of the Eastern Mediterranean, an effort that is being strongly supported by the European Commission and will be also supported by the international community, which has recently shown a strong interest in the attainment of stability in the region.
The Greek Energy Forum (GEF) – founded in January 2013 – is an exclusive group of energy professionals sharing a common interest in the broader energy industry in Greece and Southeastern Europe. The members of the GEF originate from a wide spectrum of energy-related backgrounds, and the GEF’s main objective is to establish a platform upon which energy professionals in the UK can have the ability to network, share ideas and benchmark best practices on current industry developments and market trends in Greece and Southeastern Europe.
