MaltaToday: ‘Malta a bridge to south, east Mediterranean’, EC vice-president says on gas supply

The European Union has vital interests in the South and East Mediterranean regions and Malta and Cyprus were the bridges, European Commission vice-president Günther Oettinger said.

Addressing the closing speech of the first day of the Energy Conference, Oettinger said stability in North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean was important for the European Union.

“For the EU, stability in the region is important for our own security as volatility, rivalry and unrest could spill over into the EU. Security of gas supply is of particular mutual interest and reinforcing the regional trade in gas would be of significant benefit to gas producers and consumers in the EU, North Africa and the Middle East,” Oettinger said.

The EU is looking for a further diversification of gas supply sources and routes: the North African and East Mediterranean countries are looking to develop their economies and to meet increased domestic energy demand. This presents good opportunities for cooperation with the EU.
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