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Ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Egypt met in Nicosia on Tuesday to push forward their energy cooperation drive.  

Cyprus Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister of Egypt Sherif Ismail, and Greek Energy Minister Yiannis Maniatis had a substantial and results-oriented discussion on the prospects of closer cooperation in the energy sector.  

The Nicosia meeting was the first follow-up since the landmark Cairo Summit of November 8. The trio reiterated their countries’ common desire to build on the momentum of tripartite cooperation between their respective Governments.  

They agreed to establish a framework for tripartite consultations, in order to facilitate dialogue and advance trilateral co-operation between them in the field of hydrocarbons for the benefit of their countries and of the wider region.  

They expressed their readiness to examine ways and means for the optimal development of hydrocarbons.   The Ministers said the discovery of important hydrocarbons reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean could and must serve as a catalyst for a broader cooperation on a regional level, contributing thus to the peace and stability in the region.  

Specific areas where cooperation was needed were: environmental standards in offshore hydrocarbons operations, methods of safety, energy infrastructure, research and development, institutional expertise and capacity building.