Portoroz: George Papanastasiou, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, welcomed the common political will of the MED9 countries to advance a cohesive green development strategy, with joint actions, unified planning, and integrated procedures. He made these remarks during the MED9 Ministerial Meeting on Energy and Environment, which took place on June 1 and 2, 2025, in Portoroz, Slovenia.
According to Cyprus News Agency, a press release from the Ministry stated, “During the course of the meeting, the Ministers exchanged views on the role of the Mediterranean in Europe’s green transition and agreed on the need to strengthen regional cooperation and coordination so that the region can become a hub of clean energy, with increased stability and competitiveness.”
During his interventions, Papanastasiou welcomed the shared political commitment of the MED9 to promote a cohesive green development strategy, with joint actions, unified planning, and comprehensive procedures. He also underlined the need to form a common approach to the challenges faced by Mediterranean countries, such as delays in licensing processes and infrastructure gaps, through unified procedures, technical cooperation, and a common framework for cross-border renewable energy projects.
The Energy Minister stressed the importance of enhancing the competitiveness of the MED9 through innovation, investments, and skills development, as well as the need to leverage synergies with third Mediterranean countries beyond the EU to strengthen energy security and regional stability. “In this context, Papanastasiou reiterated Cyprus’s active contribution and commitment to promoting regional cooperation and the green transition, highlighting the role of the Mediterranean as a key pillar of Europe’s energy future,” the press release added.
The Minister of Energy returns home on Tuesday.