Cyprus, Israel support idea of energy corridor from Eastern Mediterranean to Europe

Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos has said that Cyprus and Israel have agreed to promote the creation of an energy corridor from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe.

“We had an opportunity to discuss joint energy projects. We agreed that we should promote the possibilities and prospects of a reliable energy corridor from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe,” Kombos told reporters after a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, TASS reports.

He noted that this should be considered in the context of Russia's actions in Ukraine and "the need to diversify energy and increase interconnectivity".

Kombos said that such projects of mutual interest as EuroAsia Interconnector were discussed at the meeting. The EU allocated 657 million euros ($716 million) to lay a 2,000-megawatt submarine cable to connect the power systems of Israel, Cyprus and Greece in 2022.

"These projects remain relevant," the minister added.

Trilateral consultations will be held in the presence of the foreign ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Israel in Nicosia on March 31. Earlier this month, three countries signed a military cooperation programme for 2023.

According to this document, "the roles of Cyprus, Greece and Israel have strengthened as a factor of stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond".