The United States, members of the Three Seas Initiative and countries surrounding the Eastern Mediterranean region participated. During the conference, a variety of thoughts, ideas and best practices were presented on how Eastern Mediterranean countries can better take advantage of their geographical location and utilize available energy resources to ensure a reliable and sustainable energy supply.
They covered issues on the future of oil and gas in the Eastern Mediterranean, alternative scenarios and policy perspectives. They addressed the opportunities for energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the creation of a framework for regional energy cooperation and integration, market trends, investment prospects and the required financial resources and challenges.
The Conference was organized by the Transatlantic Leadership Network, the University of Piraeus Department of International & European Studies and SGT S.A.
The Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Angelos Kotios, participated in the opening speeches and the Professors of the University of Piraeus Strategic Studies, Athanasios Platias, Law and EU Politics Nikolaos Farandouris, International Law Petros Liakouras, International Relations Aristotle Tziampiris and Associate Professor Ioannis Maniatis participated in the panels

F1 Ioannis Maniatis, Ioannis Basias, president of EDEY, Angelos Kotios
F2 Ioannis Kasoulidis former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Angelos Kotios
F3 Athanasios Platias, Aristotelis Tziambiris, Angelos Kotios, Nikolaos Farandouris
F4 Geoffrey Pyatt United States Ambassador to Greece, Athanasios Platias, Angelos Kotios
F5 Angelos Kotios, Konstantina Botsiou Associate Professor of Modern History and International Politics at the University of Peloponnese, Petros Liakouras.

First Annual Eastern Mediterranean Energy Leadership Summit
October 1-2, 2019 | Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso, Greece
Welcome Remarks
Professor Angelos Kotios, Rector University of Piraeus

Dear Ministers,
His Excellency Geoffrey Pyatt, the Ambassador of the United States of America
Our academic and support staff colleagues
Dear participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the First Annual Eastern Mediterranean Energy Leadership Summit.
On behalf of the University of Piraeus I wish to express our gratitude to the co-organizers, the Transatlantic Leadership Network and the SGT. Also many thanks to my colleagues from the Department of International and European Studies and to all participants, whose engagement ensures the success of the Summit.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our energy system is rapidly evolving. There are huge challenges ahead in trying to balance climate change, securing and diversifying our long-term energy supply, and providing access to sustainable energy for everyone.
The global long-term economic development depends on the existence of efficient and innovative energy industries and these in turn rely on individuals, who possess a sound grasp of their legal, economic, and technical and policy backgrounds.
Our University is committed in promoting research and education in the field of energy, preparing our students to meet the challenges posed by the evolving global economy. We also participate in national and international energy fora and think tanks that promote energy dialog, viable solutions and international stability.
In this context we welcome the initiatives taken by the Department of International and European Studies of our University offering a unique Master’s Programme in “Energy: Strategy, Law & Economics”, organizing the Prometheus Annual Energy Lecture, participating in multiple energy networks and preparing the future energy leaders.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The topic of this Summit is the region of the East Mediterranean, a conflict-laden geopolitical landscape since the beginning of time. However, this region has recently moved from the periphery to the center of global interest. It is not an exaggeration to say that the future of the international order is being largely shaped in the East Mediterranean region because, to the old bilateral, regional, and ethnic or border conflicts, new problems have been added.
One of the most important developments that is shaping a new picture of the geopolitical and geo-economic meaning of Estmed is the discovery of natural gas reserves and the prospects of exploitation, in meeting the energy demands in gas and possibly oil for this region while not forgetting exports to the energy demanding European countries.
According to many assessments, the region remains one of the world’s most unexplored areas and has good prospects of becoming a dynamic energy producer and exporter. This could potentially promote regional cooperation, economic development and energy security or on the other hand, it could become an additional component to geopolitical instability and conflict and affirm to the paradox of the “resource curse” hypothesis.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The exploitation of energy resources in the region will face enormous political, legal, technical and administrative challenges with the most prominent among them being, the matter of security and the shaping of a new political landscape.
I believe that this Summit will give many answers to these subjects.
Thank you