Prime Minister Antonis Samaras spoke at the European Union-Asia Summit Meeting in Milan on Thursday. Energy security and Greece’s role in diversifying Europe’s energy supplies were the focus of Prime Minister’s speech.

According to government officials, Mr. Samaras said that now that Europe is struggling to guarantee the security of the energy sector, it is crucial to diversify its energy sources and the routes of its supply.

He underlined that Greece had assumed the role of a hub in energy security after the opening of the Southern Gas Corridor, which would link Caspian Sea deposits with Europe’s energy markets.

The Prime Minister talked about a long-term vision, stressing that the project was not simply a pipeline issue but one of building bridges of cooperation.

Moreover, he said that Greece promotes hydrocarbon research on its territory and pointed out the international calls for tenders for research and drilling in the Ionian Sea and south of the island of Crete.

Mr. Samaras also referred to the collaboration of Europe and Asia and said that collaboration was extended beyond trade and economy, to academic and tourism exchanges as well.