The EU has declared its continued 'strong technical and political support' to the Greece, Cyprus and Israel electricity grid connection in the framework of the Great Sea Interconnector project, noting the need to speed up its construction.
In response to a relevant question by PASOK MEP and Vice President of the EP S&D group Yiannis Maniatis, Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen spoke to the possible geopolitical dangers of the work, indicating that 'the Commission is fully committed to the connectivity dimension of the work in third countries, with the goal of preventing further delays in implementation.'
The European official stressed that the GSI, which was recently re-included in the list of common interest energy connectivity networks, is an energy avenue initiative, specified in a series of measures on European networks, therefore Commission support will continue.
He noted that the work has faced delays, with the Commission yet to be notified on on any new implementation timeframe.
'We are working closely with the Cypriot and Greek authorities as well as the implementing body in dealing with the delays', the Commissioner said, clarifying that in regard to the funding of the work through the 'Connecting Europe' Mechanism, the terms and conditions established in the grant process apply, including timeframes of completion.
The work, he further added, satisfies the prescribed criteria, including a positive cost benefit analysis, with the 'Cypriot and Greek authorities looking into certain financial parameters that will speed up implementation'. The Commission is in full support of this process.
On a separate matter, Jorgensen notes that the European Commission has also presented its expectations on enlargement, vis a vis Turkey, accompanying the 2025 statement on the EU's enlargement policy.
SOURCE: Dimitris Vellas, Athens News Agency