Minister of Energy Yiorgos Lakkotrypis briefed on Monday, in Milan, the Italian EU Presidency, the Greek Minister of Energy and other EU counterparts on Turkey’s new provocative actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus.
Lakkotrypis attended the informal meeting of the EU Energy and Environment Council, along with Environment Minister Nicos Kouyialis. Main issues during the informal Council`s discussions were the strengthening of the EU`s energy security and the internal energy market.
According to an official press release, Lakkotrypis pointed out that Turkey`s moves affect both the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and the rights of the Italian company ENI, licensed in Cyprus’ EEZ.
Turkey has issued a NAVTEX (Navigational Telex), a notice to mariners advising that it was reserving areas south of Cyprus for seismic surveys from October 20 to December 30.
The two Ministers attended in the morning a joint working lunch on energy efficiency and security, while in the afternoon they both participated in a joint meeting over the EU Policy Framework for Climate and Energy.
At the morning debate, Lakkotrypis said EU actions should focus on the exploitation of the indigenous resources, especially of natural gas, on the active support of investments –both legally and financially- for the implementation of the energy infrastructure, especially of the LNG, and the achievement of a well interconnected energy market.
The Minister of Energy also referred to the perspective created by the exploitation of natural gas resources in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as in the wider south-eastern Mediterranean, for the strengthening of the security of the EU energy supply.
He also noted the need to enhance cooperation with the EU’s neighboring countries, and referred to Cyprus’ readiness to play an essential role towards this direction.
During the afternoon debate, Minister of Environment Nicos Kouyialis said that the total reduction of greenhouse gases should be the only goal of the Policy Framework and suggested the inclusion of Cyprus to the new mechanisms for the reallocation of funds aiming at the modernization of energy systems.
