Historical agreement in Houston: East Med Energy Center (EMEC) established through the 3+1 framework
The declaration for the establishment of the East Med Energy Center in Houston within the framework of the 3+1 initiative was signed. The Ministerial Meeting of the 3+1 Cooperation Framework for Energy in Houston, Texas, was completed with absolute success, sealing a historical development for the geostrategic chessboard of the region. The meeting was attended by the Greek Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, the US Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, the Cypriot Minister of Energy, Michalis Damianos, as well as the leadership of the Ministry of Energy of Israel, represented by the Ambassador to the US Dr. Yechiel Leiter and the Director General Mr. Moshe Dayan.
The Ministry of Environment and Energy notes: The session of the Ministerial Meeting of the 3+1 Cooperation Framework for Energy in Houston, Texas, was completed with success, in which participated the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Stavros Papastavrou, along with the American Minister of Energy, Mr. Chris Wright, the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of Cyprus, Mr. Michalis Damianos, the Ambassador of Israel to the United States Dr. Yechiel Leiter and the Director General of the Ministry of Energy of Israel Mr. Moshe Dayan.
St. Papastavrou on the East Med Energy Center: “Energy must never be weaponized. Unilateral actions and threats, expressed or implied, that undermine regional stability have no place in our common future.”
During the Ministerial Meeting, the importance of the 3+1 Cooperation Initiative for energy security in the Eastern Mediterranean was reaffirmed, while all participants recognized the evolution of the framework into a catalyst for the new generation of strategic energy infrastructures in our region, including cybersecurity and interconnection projects as new priorities which it must integrate into its operations.
The East Med Energy Center (EMEC) at Rice University
Subsequently, followed at Rice University, the signing of the declaration for the establishment of the East Med Energy Center (EMEC), which will constitute the permanent point of research and development of energy security and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, strengthening synergies between the states and boosting entrepreneurship.
During the signing ceremony of the declaration, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Papastavrou characterized the moment as “historical”, saying that “Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the United States are joining our forces to deepen our strategic cooperation and to enhance interconnectivity in the Eastern Mediterranean, through the establishment of the East Med Energy Center (EMEC). EMEC will offer a permanent framework for the promotion of regional stability, energy security and economic cooperation. A framework that will bring close scientific knowledge, academic excellence, the private sector, technological innovation and energy expertise, at one of the leading academic institutions of the world.”
And he continued, emphasizing that “energy must never be weaponized. Unilateral actions and threats, expressed or implied, that undermine regional stability have no place in our common future. Through the 3+1 cooperation framework, we have proven that reliable partners with a common strategic vision can achieve tangible results, promote common interests and contribute to a more secure, prosperous and economically affordable energy future.”
“EMEC also carries a deeper symbolism. It reflects the timeless bonds of Hellenism and the unbreakable bond between Greece and Cyprus. It reflects the strength of our long-standing ties with the United States and our common aspirations for the future. And it mirrors the strategic importance of the Greek-Israeli cooperation, which has remained stable and strong over time. Today, from Houston, we send a message to the region and the world that our countries will cooperate for the security, stability and prosperity of the Eastern Mediterranean and its peoples,” he concluded characteristically.
Bilateral contacts for the Vertical Corridor and Exxon
Earlier, Mr. Papastavrou held a bilateral working meeting with the US Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, with whom he discussed the latest developments regarding the Vertical Corridor, the interest of Serbia and North Macedonia to participate in an expanded version of the project, the progress concerning the exploratory drilling planned to be carried out in the Northwest Ionian Sea in February 2027 by Exxon, but also the growing interest of Chevron for Greece in the hydrocarbons sector.
