New projects in Turkey and Cyprus could render the Eastern Mediterranean a key hub for European energy markets, US Vice President Joe Biden is said to have pointed out, addressing on Saturday the sixth annual Atlantic Council Energy and Economic Summit, in Istanbul.
He stressed that energy can and should serve as a tool for cooperation, stability, security and prosperity.
Biden pointed to the Eastern Mediterranean as a critical strategic resource for bolstering Europe’s energy security, according to Eric Gehman, Assistant Director for Publications and Communications at the Atlantic Council.
According to a posting by Gehman on the Council website, Biden said that new projects in Turkey and Cyprus could make the region into a key hub for European energy markets that he called a “major asset”.
Biden stressed the need for Europe to prioritize energy security with the help of their allies and friends.
The Vice President of the United States credited the Baltics for the work they have already done to reduce their dependence on Russian oil and called the Baltics’ efforts a model for the rest of Europe.
He concluded his remarks by pressing the European Commission to act quickly to identify and support key infrastructure projects that will accelerate European energy independence. He was quoted as saying that “energy can and should serve as a tool for cooperation, for stability, for security, and prosperity”.