The Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed the government’s intention to establish Athens as the energy metropolis in the South East Europe area.
“Our energy diplomacy aim is to transform Greece from a consumption country into a production and transport country,” deputy Foreign Minister Euripides Stylianidis said at the 11th National “Energy & Development” Conference in Athens on Wednesday.
The energy networks which cross through South East Europe are of paramount importance and they secure Europe’s regular energy supply and help to restore stability in the region, Stylianidis said.
Greece deserves to play a leading role as it is the only country in the region which is a member of the European Union and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.
Turkey’s accession process in the EU and the entry of the Western Balkan countries in the block next year can help to convert the whole region and the Western Balkan countries entry as a regional energy center for the whole Europe.
Greece’s geographical position along with the local companies’ expansion in the area gives the country comparative advantages in this new geoeconomic shape of the region, Stylianidis said.
Theodore Skylakakis general secretary of the International Economic Affairs in the Foreign Ministry shares the same views and referred to the size of investments which will be directed in the region for energy purposes.
“In the coming decades the region will attract some EUR38 billion according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington while electricity and natural gas investments alone will be around EUR21 billion.