Brussels: Energy Commissioner Dan J¸rgensen has emphasized the strategic importance of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project, the proposed electricity cable linking Greece and Cyprus, in response to Turkish threats. This assertion was made following an inquiry by Nikolas Farantouris, a Member of the European Parliament from SYRIZA-PS and a part of the Parliament’s Security-Defense Committee. Farantouris had sought “clear support from the Commission” and called for a “condemnation of Turkish threats” subsequent to the Kasos incident.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Energy Commissioner affirmed the Commission’s unconditional support for the GSI project, dismissing Turkey’s threats as baseless and incapable of halting a Project of European Interest. J¸rgensen highlighted the project’s strategic significance, which aims to end Cyprus’s energy isolation, a need highlighted by power outages in Cyprus in August 2025.
Furthermore, J¸rgensen noted the project’s potential to significantly reduce energy costs for consumers. He reiterated the Commission’s strong backing of the GSI project, which has been recognized as a project of common interest and has received a grant of £657 million through the Connecting Europe Facility.
In his remarks, J¸rgensen also pointed out that Cyprus’s Recovery and Resilience Plan includes a £100 million loan for the project, though no payment request has been received from Cyprus thus far. He assured that the Commission remains closely engaged with all involved parties to ensure the project’s timely implementation.
Addressing Turkish threats linked to the Kasos incident, J¸rgensen, as per Farantouris’ announcement, stressed the Commission’s “utmost importance” on upholding the sovereign rights of all member states, in full compliance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
He further asserted that the EU’s commitment to good neighborly relations, adherence to international agreements, and peaceful dispute resolution in line with the UN Charter, alongside the avoidance of unilateral actions that conflict with EU interests and breach international law and member states’ sovereign rights, are essential for maintaining stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean and fostering a cooperative relationship between the EU and Turkey.