“Greece is steadily becoming a provider of multi-level security in the wider region and, at the same time, an energy hub,” said deputy foreign minister, responsible for economic diplomacy and extroversion, Tassos Hadjivassiliou, at the Delphi Economic Forum X, in a panel on “From Sea to Shining Seas: The Untapped Potential of the 3 Seas Initiative”.

The Deputy Minister referred to the Three Seas Initiative, underlining that “it is a strategic springboard for strengthening Europe’s cohesion, interconnectivity and geopolitical resilience – and Greece is an integral part of this vision”.

He said that with Greece’s accession as a full member of the Three Seas Initiative, the Aegean and the Mediterranean have been added as the “fourth sea”, reinforcing the geo-economic and strategic character of the scheme.

He also added that the 3SI’s goal of strengthening energy, transport, and digital connectivity infrastructure between the countries located between the Baltic, Adriati,c and Black Seas is more relevant today than ever before.

Referring to Greece’s role in the energy sector, Hatzivassiliou said the country’s emergence as an energy hub is a key priority. He made special reference to the support of our country in the implementation of the Vertical Gas Corridor, as a project of strategic importance for the energy security of South-Eastern and Central Europe. As he noted, the commercial operation of the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) in Alexandroupolis, in combination with the Interconnecting Gas Pipeline Greece – Bulgaria (IGB), will turn Greece into a key link of the new South-North Energy Axis of Europe.

The Deputy Minister also underlined the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), noting that Greece has the strategic potential to become India’s main gateway to Europe, enhancing its international role as a transport and logistics hub.

Hadjivassiliou pointed out that, in the context of the Three Seas initiative, Greece has two objectives: first, to complete the transport and energy interconnections between European states, and second, to fill the development gap between various EU member states.