Greek Minister for the Environment and Energy Stavros Papastaurou outlined Greece’s position on energy networks and interconnections at the European Union’s Energy Ministers’ Council meeting in Luxembourg. He attended the session accompanied by Deputy Minister Nikos Tsafos.
Time for Decisive Action
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Papastaurou emphasized its strategic importance, placing energy networks and cross-border interconnections at the heart of the agenda. ‘The time for decisions has finally come,’ he stated, underscoring the need for rapid, coordinated EU-level planning to build a truly unified electricity market — not 27 fragmented national ones.
More Than Technical Infrastructure
‘Networks and interconnections are not merely technical issues — they concern all of us,’ Papastaurou said. ‘They are central to Europe’s energy security, competitiveness, and cohesion, and they are key to narrowing price disparities among member states.’
Greece’s Investment Track Record
The minister noted that since 2019, the Mitsotakis government has consistently invested in grid modernization and interconnection projects. Just days before the Luxembourg meeting, the successful capital increase of the Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE) was completed — a move expected to support the full implementation of its ambitious investment plan.
Once completed, new electricity interconnections linking Crete, the North Aegean, the Dodecanese, and the Cyclades will deliver an estimated €2 billion in benefits to Greek consumers, according to Papastaurou. ‘Strong national and European networks guarantee energy resilience and affordable energy prices for citizens and businesses alike,’ he concluded. ‘On this, Europe cannot — and must not — make concessions.’