A new legislative initiative in the U.S. Congress seeks to institutionalize America’s interest in promoting the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), with a particular emphasis on the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Titled “Law for the Eastern Mediterranean as a Strategic Gateway,” the bill, introduced by Illinois Congressman Brad Schneider, directs U.S. attention toward critical infrastructures in IMEC member countries, such as Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt, to strengthen connectivity.

In this context, the legislation:

• Specifically highlights the importance of certain energy projects, including the Great Sea Interconnector, the Greece-Egypt GREGY electricity link, the Greece-Bulgaria pipeline, and new liquefied natural gas terminals, which will facilitate IMEC’s implementation.
• Calls for the U.S. Secretary of State to explore the possibility of expanding bilateral research and development programs, currently applied to Israel, to other regional countries.
• Urges the U.S. Secretary of State to support multilateral regional cooperation frameworks, emphasizing the “3+1” scheme and the CYCLOPS center in Cyprus, presented as an example of regional collaboration.
• Encourages strengthening Israel’s diplomatic and economic ties with neighboring countries to promote regional integration.

Finally, the new legislation mandates annual reports to Congress on progress in multilateral initiatives and the completion of defense and energy projects.