On 15th June 2022, Egypt hosted the 7th EMGF Ministerial Meeting. The event was inaugurated by H.E. Natasha Pilides, Cypriot Minister of Energy and president of the current cycle of the Forum, via video conference. The Forum was moderated by H.E. Eng. Tarek El Molla, Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the alternate president of the Forum during 2022. The meeting witnessed a high-level international presence of Ministers and Heads of member countries' delegations from Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, France, Palestine and Jordan, as well as the United States, the EU and the World Bank as observer members, in addition to the EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate & Mr. Osama Mobarez, the Secretary-General of the Forum.
In his opening speech, Eng. Tarek El Molla asserted that the current changes that the world is witnessing, highlighted the significance of the EMGF and its tangible progress, as well as the country members' cooperation and participation in achieving the Forum's success. He added that the current meeting discussed the second phase of the Forum's strategy and vision for the gas industry, increasing production, initiatives for emissions reductions and de-carbonization, along with achieving an energy transition & sustainable growth.
During her speech, H.E. Natasha Pilides, Cypriot Minister of Energy pointed out that the Forum contributes to finding fair solutions for energy security on the regional and international levels. The Forum, aiming at exploiting the regional resources, will play a vital role in bolstering and enhancing gas supplies, developing reserves and transporting supplies through transit countries to the European market, which needs to secure supplies from the East Mediterranean region. She pointed out that Cyprus will host the coming EMGF Ministerial meeting next October, praising Egypt and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi for bolstering and hosting the Forum, as well as appreciating Eng. Tarek El Molla, & the participating countries for the exerted efforts for the Forum's success and achieving its goals.
For her part, H.E. Karine ElHarrar, Israel's Minister of Energy appreciated Egypt hosting this meeting, reflecting the stable relations in the region and the mutual working in the East Mediterranean region.
H.E. Kostas Skrekas, the Greek Minister of Environment and Energy reviewed that the meeting is of particular importance, especially during the Ukrainian crisis and its repercussions on the energy industry. He added that energy security necessitate exploring new energy resources.
Dr. Saleh Al Kharabsheh, the Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, explained that the geopolitical tensions clarified the right path of the Forum for developing the member countries' resources and taking steps towards providing supplies.
Ms. Helen Danton, Director of Economic Diplomacy at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, affirmed the significance of the Forum which was clear, in light of the current circumstances in Europe, noting the importance of diversifying and establishing partnerships, for securing energy supplies, and highlighting her country's support for energy transition efforts, using natural gas as a transitional fuel as well as adopting emissions reduction policies.
For his part, Dr. Muhammad Mustafa, advisor to the Palestinian President for Economic Affairs, praised Egypt for hosting the Forum's meeting, pointing out that the Forum's success confirms that member countries were able to exploit their resources, and that natural gas is an important economic resource in securing energy supplies.
Ms. Vannia Gava, Italy's Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Ecological Transition, pointed out that establishing EMGF contributes to achieving a strategy that enhances the revival of the gas market, adding that gas discoveries in the East Mediterranean set the basis for cooperation, along with diversifying and securing energy supplies.
Ms. Kadri Simson, EU Commissioner for Energy, clarified that the meeting comes at an important time for the EU aiming at diversifying energy supplies, noting that the gas supplies, from the East Mediterranean through Egypt, are securing some of those supplies.
Mr. Joshua Volz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe, Eurasia, Africa and Middle East at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), stated that the US, through its membership as an observer, supports the Forum's steps and role in energy development.
Part o fthe 7th EMGF Ministerial Meeting
Ministers and Officials during the 7th EMGF Ministerial Meeting
