Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Hatzivasileiou said the commercial entry of French investment group Meridiam into the Great Sea Interconnector gives major momentum to the project and represents a strong vote of confidence in Greece, grid operator ADMIE and the government's energy policy. He made the comments speaking to broadcaster SKAI on Thursday morning.
Hatzivasileiou referred to the agreement signed at the Maximos Mansion, in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, for the French group's entry into the electrical interconnection project with Cyprus and Israel, as well as to the strategic agreement between ADMIE, GSI and Nexans.
Strategic significance of the project
He said the project is of strategic importance, with the Mitsotakis government aiming to create a European energy corridor in the Mediterranean that would connect Europe, via Greece, with the Middle East and help end Cyprus's energy isolation. He said a giant company was joining the project, offering expertise, experience and above all reliability, describing Meridiam as a firm managing a portfolio worth 100 billion euros with 130 projects in every corner of the planet. He said Meridiam's participation in the GSI meant the project was safe.
Part of a wider energy hub strategy
Asked about the agreement, Hatzivasileiou said it fits into a broader government plan to make Greece an energy hub in practice. He pointed to gas infrastructure at Alexandroupoli, the Vertical Corridor, the Greece-Egypt electrical interconnection, and now the Great Sea Interconnector.
Response to opposition criticism
Asked about criticism from the opposition, the deputy foreign minister said that those who accused the government of neglecting or abandoning the project had been proven wrong by events. He said serious discussions had taken place over the period to bring in a serious investor like Meridiam, which lends credibility and makes it easier to leverage capital. He said the opposition should set aside its pettiness and small-mindedness and admit that the government had achieved an important, positive development.
Greek EU Council presidency preparations
Hatzivasileiou also addressed preparations for Greece's presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027, saying the priorities are clear: defence and security with a 360-degree approach, competitiveness, a Multiannual Financial Framework with balanced funding for traditional and new policies, enlargement, and maritime security grounded in international law. He said Greece is presenting these priorities clearly to its European partners and will have the opportunity to spell them out further in the coming period.
