On January 15, 2026, IENE convened a highly topical Webinar on energy developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and how these are affected by market dynamics and the regulatory conditions of the region but also by the geopolitical tensions that are persistent in this part of the world.
This Webinar on “Energy Options in the East Mediterranean”, based on the Institute’s recently completed comprehensive study (M72) under the same title, brought together leading experts, policymakers, and industry representatives. The key findings of the “Energy Options in the East Mediterranean” study were presented during the Webinar, which, thus, facilitated a structured discussion among the participants on the realistic energy pathways available to the countries surrounding the East Mediterranean basin, including Greece, Cyprus, Turkiye, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria.
The Webinar commenced with opening remarks by Mr. Costis Stambolis, Chairman and Executive Director of IENE, followed by Mr. Kostis Oikonomopoulos, Petroleum Geologist and IENE’s Research Fellow, who presented the Institute’s study.
Next, followed a round of presentations by the speakers of the Webinar took place, whereafter each speaker also had the opportunity to answer to specific questions. The speakers included Mr. John Roberts, Energy Security Specialist at Methinks Ltd (Scotland, UK) and Visiting Research Fellow of IENE, Mr. Nikolaos Degleris, Senior Expert at EMGF (Cairo, Egypt), Dr. Charles Ellinas, Senior Fellow at the Global Energy Center of the Atlantic Council and Visiting Research Fellow of IENE, Mr. Gokhan Yardim Partner and Manager of ADG Anadolu Naturalgas Consultancy and Trade Ltd. (Turkiye), Mr. Yannis Grigoriou, VP Continental Europe Energy Council (CEEC) and IENE Partner, Dr. Amit Mor, CEO of Eco Energy, Financial & Strategic Consulting and Senior Lecturer at Reichman University (Israel) and IENE Partner, and Mr. Julian Bowden, Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Mr. John Roberts, Visiting Research Fellow of IENE, moderated this part of the Webinar.
A Roundtable Discussion, moderated by Mr. Costis Stambolis with the participation of all speakers.
This latest IENE Webinar was based on the “Energy Options in the East Mediterranean” study’s holistic approach, which examines 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. Thus, particular emphasis was 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. However, the discussion during the Webinar was by no means confined to the findings of the study alone, as the participants explored 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 addressed the broader challenges facing the European Union’s energy system. Within this context, the participants were encouraged to address the issue on whether and to what extent the Eastern Mediterranean can contribute to Europe’s future energy needs. A central question for the EU’s energy security, as one of the event’s overall goal was to contribute to a deeper understanding of the East Mediterranean’s energy potential and its possible role in Europe’s evolving energy architecture.
The details, the presentations and the full video of the Webinar are available via the event’s microsite (see here).
