Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastaurou highlighted the critical issue of energy corridors in Southeast Europe and the strategic importance of the region for energy security, during a Romanian Government roundtable organized by the Economist on “Southeast Europe’s Next Leap Forward.” The minister participated in a panel with his Romanian counterpart, Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, and Bulgaria’s Deputy Energy Minister, Teodora Georgieva-Mileva. They were preceded by presentations from the U.S. Ambassadors to Greece and Romania, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Darryl Nirenberg, as well as the CEO of AKTOR and Atlantic SEE LNG Trade, Alexandros Exarchou, representing the private sector.
“A key conclusion that emerged from the discussion by the distinguished U.S. ambassadors, as well as last week in Houston where I had the honor to participate, is that energy is security. Energy is stability. We could even say that energy is life. Without reliable and affordable energy, nothing can really function. Households cannot live with dignity and security. Economies cannot develop. Industries cannot become internationally competitive. Societies cannot prosper. Consequently, states cannot remain resilient during periods of crisis like those we are experiencing today,” emphasized Mr. Papastaurou, noting that what Europe learned in recent years “the hard way, is that energy cannot be considered cheap if it is not secure.”
Stavros Papastaurou: The Vertical Corridor is an artery of development
“Therefore, every country and the region as a whole must focus on diversifying sources, routes and technologies. What we need is secure, reliable and affordable energy, something that cannot be achieved when one depends on countries that use energy as a means of pressure,” he emphasized, clarifying that “this is why projects like the Vertical Corridor are of enormous importance. Greece follows a realistic energy strategy and has diversified its energy mix.”
Mr. Papastaurou said this is why we are working intensively with neighboring countries to strengthen the Vertical Corridor: “The Vertical Corridor is not just a network of pipelines. It is something much bigger. It is an artery of development. An artery of stability. An artery of prosperity. An artery of freedom. Because it transforms the region, strengthens connectivity and creates conditions of stability that do not allow a return to the past,” said Mr. Papastaurou characteristically, arguing that we should go even further, “extend the Vertical Corridor to the Western Balkans, including North Macedonia and Serbia.”
And he concluded by saying it is a game-changing project: “Combined with secure and affordable energy from the U.S., it can bring peace and prosperity to the entire region. And as I said at the beginning, energy is life. Secure energy is power.”
