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East Med Gas Forum could boost cross-border energy flow
September 24, 2020
By Dr. Charles Ellinas
Egypt, Italy, Greece, Israel, Cyprus, Jordan and Palestinian Authority signed on Tuesday, through a teleconference, a charter turning the East Med Gas Forum (EMGF) into an international body.
EMGF was originally founded in 2018 at the behest of Egypt, as part of its plans to turn the country into the gas hub of the region.
The signing comes at a time of major regional disputes, ostensibly over gas exploration and Exclusive Economic Zone delineation in the East Med – exacerbated by Turkey’s aggressive pursue of claims that are at odds with the international law of the seas, UNCLOS. These culminated in the rising tensions between Greece and Turkey that brought the two countries close to the brink of war.
With Greece and Turkey about to enter into discussions to resolve their maritime disputes, signing of the EMGF charter may be quite timely.
Continue reading at source: Cyprus Mail