A starting point for enhancing energy security and working to resolve energy inequalities in energy prices among European regions, marks the first meeting of the special Task Force for the Energy Union, which, following a Greek request, is scheduled to take place at the end of June, focusing on South-Eastern Europe.

The task force was set up following a letter from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the President of the Commission last January, and was ratified today through Presidency Conclusions adopted by the Council of Energy Ministers, with the support of 25 member states, which included Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou and Deputy Minister Nikos Tsakos. The pan-European plenary meeting of the task force is scheduled for next September.

The conclusions outline the EU’s key priorities for the coming years in the energy sector: accelerating Renewables, improving energy efficiency, investing in resilient infrastructure and critical interconnections. At the same time, it stresses the need to diversify supply chains, boost domestic production of clean technologies and protect energy infrastructure from cyber attacks and hybrid threats.

Protection of projects of common interest

Particularly important for Greece is the explicit reference to the need to protect Projects of Common Interest – such as transnational submarine cables – from interference or obstacles that third countries may put in place.

The Council reaffirms the sovereign rights of Member States to exploit their natural resources in accordance with EU and international law, making specific reference to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

At the same time, special reference is made to the Greek side’s request to address the persistent disparities in energy prices between European regions, with the aim of maintaining the cohesion of the internal market, strengthening the purchasing power of citizens and safeguarding the competitiveness of European industry.