The ministerial meeting of the 3+1 Energy Cooperation Framework in Houston, Texas, was successfully concluded. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, along with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Cyprus’s Minister of Energy, Trade, and Industry Michalis Damianos, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, and the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Energy, Moshe Dayan.
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 initiative’s evolution into a catalyst for the new generation of strategic energy infrastructure in our region, including cybersecurity and interconnection projects as new priorities that must be incorporated into its work.
This was followed at Rice University by the signing of the declaration establishing the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center (EMEC), which will serve as a hub for research and development in energy security and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, strengthening synergies among states and boosting entrepreneurship.
During the signing ceremony for the declaration, Mr. Papastavrou described the moment as “historic,” stating that:
“Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and the United States are joining forces to deepen our strategic cooperation and strengthen interconnectivity in the Eastern Mediterranean through the establishment of the East Med Energy Center (EMEC).
EMEC will provide a permanent framework for promoting regional stability, energy security, and economic cooperation. A framework that will bring together scientific knowledge, academic excellence, the private sector, technological innovation, and energy expertise at one of the world’s leading academic institutions.”
He continued, emphasizing that:
“Energy must never be used as a tool. Unilateral actions and threats, whether expressed or implied, that undermine regional stability have no place in our shared future. Through the 3+1 cooperation framework, we have demonstrated that reliable partners with a shared strategic vision can achieve tangible results, advance common interests, and contribute to a safer, more prosperous, and more 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 shared aspirations for the future. And it reflects the strategic importance of Greek-Israeli cooperation, which has remained steadfast and strong over time. “Today, from Houston, we are sending a message to the region and the world that our countries will work together for the security, stability, and prosperity of the Eastern Mediterranean and its peoples,” he concluded.
Earlier, Mr. Papastavrou held a bilateral working meeting with U.S. Secretary of Energy Wright, with whom he discussed the latest developments in the Vertical Corridor, Serbia’s and North Macedonia’s interest in participating in an expanded version of the project, progress regarding the exploratory drilling scheduled to take place in the Northwest Ionian Sea in February 2027 by Exxon, as well as Chevron’s growing interest in Greece in the hydrocarbons sector.
Here is the text of the joint statement, fully edited and formatted according to our guidelines (proper use of capital letters for ministries, lowercase for titles, bold only on first appearance, and removal of “Mr.”):
Joint Statement on the 3+1 Ministerial Energy Dialogue of the Eastern Mediterranean in Houston, United States of America
The heads of the ministries responsible for energy of the Republic of Cyprus, the Hellenic Republic, the State of Israel, and the United States of America met today in Houston, to continue their cooperation within the framework of the 3+1 Energy Dialogue, with the aim of promoting energy development and security in the Eastern Mediterranean region. This meeting fulfills the commitment made in Athens in November 2025, during the last session of the Eastern Mediterranean 3+1 Ministerial Energy Dialogue, to hold a new meeting in the United States within the second quarter of 2026.
Ministers Damianou and Papastavrou, Ambassador Leiter, and Energy Secretary Wright discussed areas of mutual interest and ongoing cooperation, including energy security, the development of offshore natural gas fields, energy innovation and research and development, as well as regional infrastructure and interconnectivity. They also emphasized the importance of regional interconnectivity initiatives and projects between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, which can create opportunities for U.S. companies, as well as the importance of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) for strengthening economic resilience and supply chain security. They recognized these issues as key drivers of economic prosperity through the diversification of energy sources and supply routes.
The representatives also reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation in the field of energy infrastructure and emphasized that coordination on energy infrastructure and policy can enhance the cybersecurity and physical security of critical infrastructure, deepen strategic ties, and strengthen regional diplomacy through long-term partnerships. At the same time, they welcomed the launch of the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, which took place later that day. They recognized the Center’s role in supporting research and policy dialogue among the participating countries, as well as in fostering public-private partnerships to promote innovative energy solutions.
As part of the ongoing cooperation among the four countries through the 3+1 Energy Dialogue, representatives of the relevant ministries committed to holding a series of regular meetings at the working-level in the coming months, with the aim of drafting a Roadmap for Cooperation under the 3+1 Energy Dialogue.
The purpose of the roadmap is to define objectives and actions in the areas of common interest discussed during today’s meeting, including, where appropriate, the utilization of the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center.
As one of the first actions, the countries agreed to establish a working group on cybersecurity and the physical security of critical infrastructure. The relevant ministries of the four countries aim to approve the roadmap within the current calendar year and convene the next ministerial meeting in Israel at an appropriate time.