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EU says Ukrainian pipeline still key conduit for Russian gas
The European Union fully supports Ukraine as a stable and reliable transit route and will do its utmost to ensure that Ukraine remains an...
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Mitsotakis government’s foreign policy inevitably points to Washington
In view of ongoing tension between Turkey, the EU and Washington, it was completely reasonable for the new Greek government of Prime Minister Kyriakos...
Archive
Iran escalates tensions in the Persian Gulf after seizing UK tanker
In the latest escalation in the Persian Gulf region, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard reportedly captured a British-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz...
Analysis
The Name Dispute after the July 7 Greek elections
The June 2018 Prespes Agreement, which settled the so-called Name Dispute with newly-renamed North Macedonia, Greece’s northern neighbor, was an important but not the...
Archive
The big question mark for OPEC and Russia confab: Extend production cuts
MOSCOW – The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major oil producers led by Russia plan to meet on 1-2 July in...
Albania
As enlargement discussions freeze, aspirants twist in the wind
Discussions in Luxembourg regarding EU enlargement in the Western Balkans made little headway this past week, despite the threat from North Macedonian Prime Minister...
Archive
Don’t slow the flow: EU wants no snag in Russian gas via Ukraine
As Nord Stream-2 builders are planning to finish the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany underneath the Baltic Sea by the end of the...
Analysis
Could Kazakhstan’s recent election be a model for the rest of Central Asia?
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan - As the dust settles following Kazakhstan’s elections, some outside observers are concluding that the approach taken by the Kazakh government in support...
Archive
Zaev hints at early elections
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of North Macedonia hinted on 5 June, and again the next day, that he would consider calling early elections if...
Archive
Cyprus, Noble Energy reach deal to expedite Aphrodite development
Cyprus’ government has reached a deal to revise the contract with US-based company Noble Energy and its joint venture partners, Israel’s Delek Group and...
Archive
Kosovo-Serbia relations again disrupted
Raids by Kosovo police on 28 May in a large anti-corruption operation triggered a serious deterioration of already-strained Kosovo-Serbia relations in the following days,...
Archive
US sanctions may be too late to stop Nord Stream-2 construction
US sanctions against the controversial Nord Stream-2 pipeline from Russia to Germany are unlikely stop the project’s construction but may prevent Russian gas monopoly...
Archive
Saudi-Iran spat over drone attacks fuel oil prices
Increased tensions in the Middle East have fuelled oil prices this week. On 16 May, crude oil prices increased more than 1% as a...
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EIB loan to finance power cable between Crete and mainland Greece
ATHENS - The Greek island of Crete took a step closer towards energy independence and cutting CO2 emissions on 9 May, following a deal...
Archive
North Macedonia’s presidential election results calm West’s worries
North Macedonia’s presidential runoff election on 5 May produced results guaranteed to calm fraying nerves in Athens, Washington, Brussels, Paris, and Berlin as the...
Archive
US boosts LNG supplies to the EU, aiming to reduce reliance on Russia
The increased exports of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe will decrease the European Union’s reliance on Russia and boost EU energy security,...
Archive
Finland to start constructing nuclear plant with Russian reactor in 2021
SOCHI, Russia – Fennovoima is proceeding with plans to build the Hanhikivi 1 nuclear power plant in the northern Finnish city of Pyhäjoki and...
Analysis
Name Dispute chills North Macedonia’s presidential election
What would normally be an inconsequential election for the largely ceremonial post of president in North Macedonia has crystallised into an unofficial referendum on...
Africa
Greece, Cyprus, Jordan cement East Med Gas Forum relationship
ATHENS – The leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Jordan will hold a trilateral summit in Amman on 14 April to expand cooperation in the...
Analysis
New legislation energizes US policy in the Eastern Mediterranean
Important new bipartisan legislation has been introduced by two ranking US Senators to reshape and energize US strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean, taking into...
Albania
Tsipras visits Skopje hoping to cement his Prespes accomplishments
Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited North Macedonia’s capital Skopje on 2 April, his second visit to the country since signing the Prespes Agreement. ...
Analysis
Tsipras heads to Skopje to salvage his Prespes gambit
Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is set to deliver on his promised trip to North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, on 2 April, which was announced...
Archive
OPEC+ oil production cuts, possible US-China trade deal boost oil prices
Supply cuts led by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela and the possibility of a US-China trade...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Important issues progressing while public attention fades
While the Name Dispute between Greece and the newly-renamed Republic of North Macedonia has fallen out of the headlines, several notable developments occurred in...
Archive
US, Israel, Cyprus, Greece reaffirm regional energy cooperation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on 20 March...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Coming to terms
The Name Dispute has again fallen from the headlines in Northern Macedonia and Greece, as the public focus in Skopje is on April’s Presidential...
Archive
Wind power may cover almost 40% of Portugal’s electricity by 2030
PORTO, Portugal – Portugal’s wind power is expected to grow to around 7 GW by 2030, which is enough to cover almost 40% of...
Archive
Pompeo spearheads US efforts to bring East Med gas to EU
ATHENS – The United States is very supportive of plans to develop gas reserves in the East Mediterranean and export them to Europe, lessening...
Archive
Delphi Economic Forum – A small US official presence, but long American shadow
DELPHI, Greece - At the February 28-March 3 Delphi Economic Forum, (DEF) entitled “The Challenge of Inclusive Growth” the long list of invited American...
Albania
Delphi Economic Forum: Intense focus on Southeastern Europe
DELPHI, Greece - Now in its fourth year, the 2019 Delphi Economic Forum (DEF) has grown into a true Davos-like venue, with groups from...
Archive
Cyprus’ new Glaucus-1 gas field can boost EU energy security
DELPHI, Greece - A major offshore natural gas discovery in the Eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus at the Glaucus-1 well by US energy giant ExxonMobil...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Nationality tussles highlight Prespes Agreement flaws
If there is an area where the June 2018 Prespes Agreement’s legions of detractors and a reasonable number of its mainstream but unenthusiastic supporters...
Archive
Exxon potential gas find in East Med boosts EU pipeline hopes
Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy are expected to sign an intergovernmental agreement for the EU-backed EastMed pipeline project in March to transport natural gas...
Analysis
Name Dispute: A time for kudos, awards and arrests
Now that the ratification procedures for June’s Prespes Agreement between Greece and newly-renamed North Macedonia are complete, the focus has shifted to a wide-ranging...
Archive
German MEPs Brok and Keller reiterate opposition to Nord Stream-2
STRASBOURG – Two members of the European Parliament on February 12 renewed their opposition to the Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to...
Analysis
Name Dispute: North Macedonia’s name change takes hold
Following Greece’s ratification of the NATO Accession Protocol for North Macedonia February 8, over the past week, Europe witnessed a series of implementation steps...
Archive
EU tougher regulations unlikely to stop Nord Stream-2
EU ambassadors have reportedly agreed to toughen regulations on the Nord Stream-2 on February 8, but they have decided not to back plans that...
Archive
Athens clears path for North Macedonia’s NATO admission
NATO’s 29 members and the soon-to-be-renamed Republic of North Macedonia signed the country’s NATO Accession Protocol in Brussels on February 6. Since the Name...
Analysis
Trump sends David Malpass to the World Bank
President Donald J Trump named David Malpass, currently US Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs, as the US candidate for the Presidency of the World...
Archive
Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy show political will for EastMed gas pipe
ATHENS - There is political will from Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy to proceed with the construction of the EastMed natural gas pipeline, Israel’s...
Analysis
Political landscape reshaped after blistering Prespes Agreement ratification battle
While Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras successfully avoided triggering national elections over the painful ratification battle for June’s Prespes Agreement with the newly renamed...
Archive
US oil production may undermine OPEC-Plus cuts
The United States becomes a net energy exporter in 2020 and remains so throughout the projection period as a result of large increases in...
Analysis
Deeply polarised Greece ratifies Prespes Agreement
Greece completed its rushed and contentious ratification procedure for the Prespes Agreement in a vote delayed to January 25, aiming to resolve the Name...
Analysis
Prespes Agreement ratification enters final stretch
The Greek side’s ratification process for June’s Prespes Agreement which seeks to resolve the Name Dispute between Greece and Macedonia/FYROM is now moving forward...
Archive
Tsipras narrowly wins self-imposed confidence vote
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras won the closest of confidence challenges late January 16 with 151 votes in favour and 148 against. Although at...
Africa
East Med countries agree to create regional gas market
Eastern Mediterranean countries have agreed to create a regional gas market in an effort to transform their part of the Mediterranean into a major...
Analysis
Tsipras co-opts Independent Greeks in confidence vote, expected to get North Macedonia seal of approval
All the pieces are now in place for a one-two process that will see the Prespes Agreement, which seeks to resolve the Greece-Macedonia/FYROM Name...
Archive
Name Dispute: Western leaders rejoice, Greece melts down
After a confused post-holiday week marked by conflicting statements and signals from key Greek leaders in the ruling coalition government, political developments in Athens...
Archive
EU energy policy to boost security of supply in the Balkans
ATHENS – The European Union and member states need to work together to increase energy security, which is a goal that will be continued...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Prespes ratification issue is front and center
Like the slowly ticking time bomb it actually represents for the Greek political world, the Prespes Agreement ratification procedure rolls almost inexorably towards completion...
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