Mitsotakis – Greece and Italy demand a common gas market from the European Union

The major geopolitical and not only importance of the agreement on the electricity interconnection of Egypt and Greece with the aim of transporting cheap “green” energy from Egypt to the European Union, especially in the midst of a period where the energy crisis is of great concern to governments and citizens Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, underlined the European continent.

“The cheap energy that Egypt can produce must find its way to Europe,” Mitsotakis said during a discussion with Columbia University economist and professor Jeffrey Sacks at the Athens Environmental, Social and Governance Conference. Climate Crisis Summit “, organized by” Kathimerini “at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.

He pointed out that this is why the agreement on the definition of maritime zones, which we signed with Egypt, is of such great geopolitical importance. We will not ask anyone, I hope there will be more support from the European Union, stressing that the Eastern Mediterranean, and in particular countries such as Israel and Egypt, can play an important role in diversifying the EU’s energy sources.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the Greek government since September 2019 is a leader at EU level in setting bold and ambitious goals regarding the drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and insisted that our country will fulfill its commitments despite the energy crisis, which .

Recalling that the Greek government had taken significant steps to absorb the increases in gas and electricity prices, especially for vulnerable households, it re-submitted to the public debate the proposal, also supported by Italy, for a common gas market by the European Union in the model of coronavirus vaccines.

Increases in electricity

Mr. Mitsotakis said that there should be no significant increases in electricity and heating and that to convince citizens that it is in their interest to switch to clean energy, you must prove that there is a better future after coal, that the jobs that will arise will be better paid.

Regarding the protection of the marine environment, Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated his proposal that by 2030 10% of our seas should be no-go zones, while reiterating the importance of marine wind farms under the condition, however, that they will not destroy the natural environment and that they will be strictly defined.

Finally, the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, revealed during his conversation with Jeffrey Sacks that in a letter sent to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, he emphasizes, among other things, that the goals of the “Fit for 55” Commission initiative to reduce emissions are not realistic in the field of shipping. Given the fact that Greek shipping covers 58% of the total in the EU, the Prime Minister proposes, in fact, the establishment in our country of a European Research Center for alternative fuels and technologies in shipping.