The 10th Ministerial Meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (East Med Gas Forum - EMGF), which took place on Monday in Washington, D.C., under the chairmanship of Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou.
The meeting, held following a joint invitation from Mr. Papastavrou and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, resulted in the adoption of a unanimous joint communiqué, which explicitly recognizes that the development of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean can only take place within the framework defined by international law.
This statement takes on particular political significance during a period of geopolitical turmoil, in which energy security, critical infrastructure, and the resilience of energy systems are at the center of regional cooperation.
The meeting was attended, alongside the Greek and U.S. Secretaries of Energy, by the Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus, Michalis Damianos, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi; Jordan’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh Ali Al-Karabseh; heads of government delegations from Israel, Italy, and Palestine, as well as representatives of the European Union and the World Bank.
The ministers and heads of delegations discussed current developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, energy security and cooperation, critical infrastructure, as well as the Organization’s strategic planning. According to the meeting’s declaration, the EMGF serves as a critical platform for dialogue and cooperation to ensure energy security in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as to promote a framework of mutual understanding and development based on international law.
The ministers also discussed ways in which member states can leverage the Forum to develop interconnected and resilient energy systems in the Eastern Mediterranean, with natural gas as the cornerstone. In this context, the region was presented as a strategic energy corridor connecting the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
Furthermore, the Ministerial Meeting was preceded by a working lunch attended by representatives of major energy companies from the U.S. and the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to the declaration, discussions on the Forum’s revised long-term strategy are continuing within the Executive Board, with the support of the Secretariat, with the aim of reaching a common understanding among member states regarding the future strategic direction of the EMGF.
During the session, Israel’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen was appointed chair of the Ministerial Meeting for the period from August 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, while Italy’s Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, was appointed vice-chair. At the same time, Yossi Dayan of Israel was appointed Chair of the Executive Board for the same period.
The ministers and heads of delegations expressed their appreciation to the United States for hosting the Ministerial Meeting and thanked President Donald Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright for their contributions. As they emphasized, the initiative demonstrates a shared commitment to promoting constructive cooperation to strengthen energy security and the resilience of energy systems.
Minister of Environment and Energy St. Papastavrou stated after the conclusion of the Summit:
“Greece has the honor and responsibility of chairing the Ministerial Meeting on Natural Gas of the Eastern Mediterranean countries, organized by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. At a time of intense geopolitical turmoil and conflict, it is particularly significant that the Energy Ministers of Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, Egypt, and the United States, together with representatives of the governments of Israel, Palestine, Italy, the European Union, and the World Bank, are sitting at the same table to discuss energy developments regarding natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean.
"The Greek Presidency highlights the leading role we are recognized for playing in the energy sector in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are building a framework for cooperation with full respect for international law, based on mutually accepted principles and commercial rules that strengthen stability and discourage unilateral and revisionist behavior. Our goal is shared by all of us. For the energy security and prosperity of our peoples, we must move forward decisively.”