FM Kotzias: ‘Greece won’t accept conditions deviating from EU laws and agreements in energy’

Greece will not accept conditions that deviate from the European Union’s laws and agreements in the field of energy, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kozias said on Monday in his speech at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg.

“One cannot set as terms and conditions parameters and elements that are outside the European Law and our agreements in the field of energy,” Kotzias stated.

Speaking later on the sidelines of the Council meeting, he noted the difficulties in the EU’s energy diplomacy as a result of the different interests, adding that in order to succeed, “you need a good cooperation between European institutions and member-states, a cooperation which must extend on all levels of negotiations and cooperation, taking into account the new abilities of member-states on the basis of International Law and especially Maritime Law, which must be respected first and foremost by EU partners.”

He also spoke of the importance of the TAP gas pipeline and the need for the European Commission “to take more action in bringing about the vertical route linking Greece-Bulgaria-Romania”. He also expressed his support for the East Med pipeline and in enhancing the capacity of existing and planned LNG stations.