Webinar IENE:  East Mediterranean Energy

Announcement

IENE Webinar on East Mediterranean Energy


January 15, 2026,
16.00’-19.00’ UTC/GMT +2 hours

The Eastern Mediterranean has emerged over the past decade as a region of growing strategic importance in the global and European energy landscape. Major offshore natural gas discoveries, expanding LNG and electricity infrastructure, rapidly growing renewable energy capacity, and the prospect of future hydrogen development have placed the region firmly on the energy map. At the same time, persistent geopolitical tensions, regulatory uncertainty, and shifting market dynamics continue to shape and often constrain, the pace and direction of energy developments.

Against this backdrop, the Institute of Energy for South-East Europe (IENE) is organising an afternoon webinar on “Energy Options in the East Mediterranean”, based on its recently completed comprehensive study (M72). The event will bring together leading experts, policymakers, and industry representatives to present the study’s key findings and to facilitate a structured discussion on the realistic energy pathways available to the countries surrounding the East Mediterranean basin, including Greece, Cyprus, Türkiye, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria.

The study adopts a holistic approach, examining the full spectrum of energy options in the region: oil and natural gas exploration and production, pipeline and LNG infrastructure, electricity generation and cross-border interconnections, renewable energy potential, and emerging hydrogen opportunities. Particular emphasis is placed on the feasibility, timing and economic viability of these options, as well as on the geopolitical and security factors that influence investment decisions and regional cooperation.

At the same time, the discussion during the webinar will by no means be confined to the findings of the study alone. Participants will be encouraged to explore additional and emerging issues related to the Eastern Mediterranean, including recent geopolitical developments, market trends, policy initiatives and new project proposals that may further shape the region’s energy outlook.

The webinar will also address the broader challenges facing the European Union’s energy system. Europe continues to grapple with issues of energy security, diversification of supply, affordability, and the implementation of its decarbonisation objectives. Recent crises have highlighted the EU’s vulnerability to external shocks and reinforced the need for reliable, flexible and diversified energy sources.

Within this context, a central question to be explored is whether and to what extent, the Eastern Mediterranean can contribute to Europe’s future energy needs. Can the region realistically evolve into a stable energy supplier for the EU, and under what conditions? What role can natural gas, electricity interconnections and renewables play in the medium and long term? And how do geopolitical risks and market trends shape these prospects?

This webinar seeks to provide a balanced, evidence-based platform for dialogue among experts, policymakers and industry stakeholders, contributing to a deeper understanding of the East Mediterranean’s energy potential and its possible role in Europe’s evolving energy architecture.