Energy Minister George Papanastasiou will take part on Thursday in the first EU-MED 9 Energy Ministers meeting in Malta, which will focus on energy security and the transition to green energy.

Papanastasiou departs for Malta on Wednesday afternoon where he will take part in the EU-MED 9 meeting on Thursday together with his colleagues from France, Greece, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Malta, Portugal and Slovenia, a Ministry press release says.

During the meeting Ministers from the nine EU Mediterranean countries "will discuss ways to enhance their energy security and at the same time fast-track their efforts for transition to green energy, on the basis of the EU goal for climate neutrality until 2050," the press release adds. 

The aim of the meeting is for the Mediterranean to become a Green Energy Hub through which energy will be transported to the EU and third countries, it continues.

A joint statement is expected to be issued once the meeting concludes. 

Papanastasiou returns to Cyprus on Thursday evening.