The meeting between Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Washington focused on the need to establish a Working Group for issues related to the Vertical Corridor. The first meeting of participating countries (Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, Ukraine) has already been scheduled for December 10.
Papastavrou: Meeting with Export-Import Bank of the United States president
Minister Papastavrou also met with the President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), John Jovanovic, who – according to the Ministry of Environment and Energy – emphasized the pivotal role of the Vertical Corridor in US energy export policy. The EXIM President described the strategic priority of the United States in the resilience of the American LNG supply chain worldwide, particularly in our region, whose basic prerequisite is the expansion of natural gas storage and regasification facilities.
Additionally, they discussed the financing program worth 100 billion euros that the Bank has developed for Europe, as well as Eastern Mediterranean countries. The EXIM President emphasized the Bank’s steady focus on critical raw materials, with the Minister highlighting the development of gallium in Greece as a critical mineral raw material.
Finally, Mr. Jovanovic extended an invitation to Mr. Papastavrou to participate as a speaker at the Bank’s annual Conference to be held in April 2026.
