Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, met today with his Romanian counterpart, Nicolae Ionel Ciucă, at Megaros Maximos in Athens and agreed to further their collaboration in energy projects.
“We agreed to upgrade our cooperation in energy, where Greece plays the leading role as a hub for entering and transporting natural gas, obviously covering national needs, but also supplying the wider region and certainly Romania as well,” Mitsotakis said during a joint press conference following the meeting.
The Greek Prime Minister maintained that the cooperation was more than just a “commercial option,” dubbing it “an act of responsibility” that signals “medium-to-long-term cooperation” between the two countries in the field of energy.
In a press release, Mitsotakis’ office stated that Greece is emerging as a “country-hub of energy transmission for the wider region of Eastern and Central Europe, thereby contributing to Europe’s energy security” amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Στη συνάντηση με τον Πρωθυπουργό της Ρουμανίας, Nicolae Ionel Ciucă, επιβεβαιώσαμε τις εξαιρετικές διμερείς μας σχέσεις, αλλά και την κοινή μας πίστη στις αρχές του Διεθνούς Δικαίου, της δημοκρατίας, της ισονομίας, του σεβασμού των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων. https://t.co/ooBXuOJerr pic.twitter.com/Hx1qGNnePH
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) July 7, 2022
During the press conference, Mitsotakis announced that the 182km-long natural gas pipeline between Greece and Bulgaria (‘the IGB pipeline’) will be inaugurated tomorrow, saying it is “another step in creating new infrastructure and alternative routes.”
“We recognise the role that these infrastructures can play in the rapid de-dependence of Europe from Russia,” the Greek Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Ciucă said the pipeline will “ensure the supply of natural gas to both Bulgaria and Romania, but also in general to all members of the European Union and of course to Moldova and Ukraine which are on our eastern border.”
“I am sure that Europe’s natural gas needs will be met,” he added.
WATCH the joint press conference between Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Romanian Prime Minister, Nicolae Ionel Ciucă here:
Mitsotakis also thanked his Romanian counterpart for the practical support of Romania in last year’s fires and for sending 28 firefighters and eight special vehicles during this year’s fire season.
“Our peoples stand side by side and against the threats of the climate crisis that concern us all. We gratefully remember the contribution of the Romanian firefighter’s last summer, who professionally and selflessly helped our country to deal with unprecedented forest fires,” the Greek Prime Minister said.
Speaking on Greece’s fire season, the Romanian Prime Minister said, “You can always count on our help. In any situation, in any difficult moment, you can count on our help, because we are sure that you will do the same for us.”
Mitsotakis also briefed Prime Minister Ciucă about the most recent Turkish provocations, reiterating Greece’s readiness to defend its national interests should dialogue within an international framework fail.
READ MORE: Mitsotakis: Turkey’s position over Aegean islands ‘absolutely absurd’
