Papanastasiou : It is our responsibility to ensure a sustainable energy future for citizens

EU member states share the same goals and commitments towards climate neutrality, Cyprus’ Energy Minister, George Papanastasiou, said on Monday, noting that “it is our responsibility to ensure a sustainable, secure, and affordable energy future for our citizens”.

In his opening remarks at the second MED9 Energy Ministerial Meeting, taking place in Larnaca, Papanastasiou welcomed his counterparts and other attendees on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, noting that the gathering was a reminder “of the crucial role energy plays in the Mediterranean region, not only as a driver of economic growth and development, but also as a key factor in addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and energy security”.

“Our region”, he added, “is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, making it a vital hub for energy cooperation and innovation”.

“As EU member states we also share the same goals and commitments towards climate neutrality. Thus, it is our responsibility to ensure a sustainable, secure, and affordable energy future for our citizens”, the Minister said. To achieve these goals, he noted, “we must work together, leveraging our collective strengths and fostering collaboration in areas such as the deployment of renewable energy and the development of innovative and resilient infrastructure”.

The Minister also said that today’s meeting was an opportunity “to exchange insights and reinforce our commitment to a greener and more sustainable energy landscape”.

“Let us use this platform to build upon the already solid foundation established during our first meeting in Valetta and to outline a clear path forward that not only benefits our nations, but also contributes to the global efforts to combat climate change”, he added.

Papanastasiou expressed confidence that the discussions would lead “to concrete actions and stronger ties between our countries. Together, we can shape a future where the Mediterranean region stands as a beacon of sustainable energy development and cooperation”, he said.

The aim of today's meeting hosted by Cyprus as the presiding country of the MED9 informal cooperation for 2024, is to strengthen energy cooperation between the nine Mediterranean EU member states especially with regard to the effort to transform the Mediterranean region into a green energy transfer hub.

The Ministers of Energy or their representatives of France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Malta, Portugal and Slovenia, participate in the Summit, as well as representatives of the European Commission and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).