Greek Foreign Minister briefs party leaders on Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection project

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis held briefings with leaders of parliamentary political parties on November 14, 2026, regarding the Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection project. The minister stated that the project is moving forward and Greece will not tolerate any interference in this matter. The minister delivered this message while attending an international strategic forum in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Political party briefings

The briefing sessions covered the strategic energy project, which is considered of significant importance for Europe. The project aims to establish Greece as an energy hub in the Eastern Mediterranean. Giorgos Gerapetritis conducted the sessions throughout the day to provide updates on foreign policy and the interconnection project. The first session began at 09:30 with Nikos Androulakis, the President of PASOK. This was followed by a meeting with Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of KKE, at 11:00.

The minister continued the briefings at 12:00 with Zoï Konstantopoulou, the President of Plefsi Eleftherias. The final scheduled session of the day took place at 17:00 with Rena Dourou, the President of the Parliamentary Group of SYRIZA. This marked the fourth time Giorgos Gerapetritis has met with political party leaders to provide updates on foreign policy. Kyriakos Velopoulos, the President of Greek Solution, did not attend the scheduled briefings. Dimitris Natsios, the President of NIKI, was absent from Athens and is scheduled for a briefing on Tuesday, November 17, 2026.

Maritime survey operations

The interconnection project involves maritime activities in the region. The French research vessel Abeille Marengo is currently conducting bathymetric surveys south of Karpathos. These operations are taking place in international waters. According to official sources, the research vessel is operating under Greek authorization and a Greek NAVTEX. The Greek frigate Limnos is sailing in close proximity to the French research vessel to monitor the area. Meanwhile, a Turkish frigate is monitoring movements from a significant distance.

Strategic energy importance

The Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection project serves as a vital component of regional energy infrastructure. By linking the electrical grids of Greece and Cyprus, the project seeks to integrate the energy markets and enhance security. The strategic nature of the project has drawn international attention, particularly regarding the presence of foreign vessels in the Eastern Mediterranean. Giorgos Gerapetritis emphasized that the French research vessel is in international waters and is working solely based on Greek authorization and NAVTEX.

Glossary

• PASOK — PASOK is a political party. It was influenced by the philosophies of the Andreas Papandreou left-wing faction within Georgios Papandreou's Centre Union.
• KKE — KKE is a political party that takes a hard Eurosceptic stance. It advocates Greek patriotism alongside proletarian internationalism.
• Plefsi Eleftherias — Plefsi Eleftherias is a Greek anti-establishment political party. It was founded in 2016 by the former President of the Hellenic Parliament, Zoe Konstantopoulou.
• SYRIZA — SYRIZA is a political party. It has been involved in decisions regarding the school curriculum in Greece.
• Greek Solution — Greek Solution is a political party. It has ties to ELAM, Brothers of Italy, Vox in Spain, and the European Conservatives and Reformists group.