Stavros Papastavrou met with Chris Wright to discuss energy cooperation, in the presence of the Greek delegation led by Konstantinos Tasoulas.
The prospects of energy cooperation between Greece and the United States were discussed in a one-on-one meeting between the Minister Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, with his American counterpart, Kris Wright.
The meeting took place shortly before their scheduled contact with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Constantine Tasoulas, who is leading the national delegation to the proceedings of the Three Seas Initiative Summit being held in Croatia.
The two ministers discussed current energy developments in the region and internationally. According to information from the Ministry of Environment:
Papastavrou briefed Chris Wright on the recent signing of the drilling contract for Block 2 in the Northwestern Ionian Sea by a consortium of ExxonMobil – Energean – HELLENiQ Energy and Stena Drilling.
The positive developments in the Vertical Corridor and the recent agreement between the Operators of the Vertical Corridor countries and the Commission were also discussed. The Greek Minister stressed to his counterpart that the agreement includes a uniform and transparent charging system, reducing divergences between markets and enhancing the functionality of the Vertical Corridor as a single energy route.
Further, for the first time, Operators will offer a wide range of options, from short-term to annual products, starting in the gas year 2026-2027, which is expected to significantly improve user flexibility and allow for more efficient planning, both operationally and strategically. At the same time, a transitional period until October 2026 is envisaged, during which the existing products will be maintained, subject to the approval of the competent authorities.
For his part, the American Minister informed Mr. Papastavrou on the initiatives taken by the US to promote energy cooperation in the region, focusing on the vertical corridor, as well as on the strengthening of the 3+1 initiative, but also the need for closer strategic cooperation in the framework of the East Med Gas Forum – which is currently chaired by Greece – another important forum for energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region of strategic importance for the US, with increased importance in the current context.
Finally, Papastavrou and Wright discussed their next meetings, starting with the meeting on the 3+1 Cooperation Scheme, which, after Athens in November 2025, will take place in Washington, D.C., in mid-June.
