Source: European Parliament
The Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) (formerly EuroAsia Interconnector), included on the Union list of projects of common interest (‘PCIs’)[1]. is aimed at linking the electricity systems of Greece, Cyprus and Israel. It is also a Global Gateway project.
It has received EUR 657 million from Connecting Europe Facility for the Cyprus-Crete part. This underscores its importance for ending Cyprus’s energy isolation.
It will also help renewable energy integration and energy security in the Eastern Mediterranean region. As a PCI the GSI has the full support of the Commission, which monitors its implementation and is ready to assist where needed. It also has priority status for permitting.
With the EU Action Plan on Cable Security[2] the Commission recognises that security and resilience of EU submarine cable infrastructures is paramount and must be enhanced to protect EU’s vital strategic interests.
The EU has repeatedly underlined that Türkiye is expected to de-escalate tensions in the interest of regional stability in Eastern Mediterranean[3] and make an unequivocal commitment to good neighbourly relations, international agreements and peaceful settlement of disputes, including through the International Court of Justice[4].
Türkiye must respect the sovereignty of all Member States over their territorial sea and airspace as well as all their sovereign rights, including inter alia to explore and exploit natural resources in accordance with EU and international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos)[5].
This is essential to ensure a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and the development of a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship between the EU and Türkiye[6].
- [1] Under R egulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure (‘TEN-E Regulation’).
- [2] Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council ‘EU Action Plan on Cable Security’ JOIN(2025) 9 final.
- [3] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/57442/2022-06-2324-euco-conclusions-en.pdf.
- [4] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-16983-2024-INIT/en/pdf.
- [5] https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/8010c4db-6ef8-4c85-aa06-814408921c89_en?filename=T%C3%BCrkiye%20Report%202024.pdf.
- [6] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6157.