This archive report was first published on 2 January 2020.
On January 2, 2020, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel signed a landmark EastMed pipeline deal, marking a significant step in their efforts to secure a stable energy supply for Europe.
The 2,000-kilometre EastMed pipeline will transport between 9 and 12 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually from offshore reserves in Israel and Cyprus to Greece, and then on to Italy and other southeastern European countries.
The discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean has sparked a scramble for energy riches, leading to a row between Cyprus and Turkey, which occupies the northern part of the island.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades joined the ceremony, where their respective energy ministers signed the deal in Athens.
The EastMed project is expected to make the three countries key players in Europe's energy supply chain, potentially countering Turkey's efforts to extend its control over the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey already faces European Union sanctions over ships searching for oil and gas off Cyprus, whose government in Nicosia is not recognised by Ankara.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously announced plans for joint energy exploration activities with Libya in the eastern Mediterranean, sparking concerns over Turkey's intentions.
"No matter who is involved, no plan in the region which excludes Turkey has any chance of success," Vice President Fuat Oktay said, defending Turkey's pact with Libya.
However, Greece responded angrily to the Turkey-Libya deal, expelling the Libyan ambassador and urging the UN to condemn it.
Netanyahu hailed the EastMed alliance as "of enormous importance to the state of Israel's energy future and its development into an energy power and also from the point of view of stability in the region".
Mitsotakis described the pipeline as "geo-strategic importance" and a contributor to regional peace, while Anastasiades emphasized the need for "cooperation and not rivalry in the Middle East".
Avinoam Idan, a geostrategy expert at Haifa University, noted that the new source of energy would not compete with Russian supplies to the EU, making it a significant development in Europe's energy market.
