Joint Statement from U.S. Energy Secretary Wright and Greek Energy Minister Papastavrou Regarding Sixth P-TEC

1. We reaffirm that the transatlantic bond is indispensable, just as an affordable, reliable, secure, and resilient energy future for Europe is central to freedom, prosperity, peace, and human flourishing.  Energy is not merely a commodity, but the lifeblood that powers all modern industry.  
2. We recognize that energy security is national security, and the
   diversification of supply sources and routes, the preservation of strategic
   reserves, and the operation of resilient infrastructure are essential to
   mitigating vulnerability and reducing dependence on hostile states and actors.  
3. We affirm that natural gas will remain a cornerstone of Europe’s
   energy security and a reliable component of the continent’s power generation
   mix for decades to come.  Natural gas is a strategic enabler for grid
   stability, industrial competitiveness, and economic growth.  
4. We recognize the energy security benefits of enhanced natural gas
   cooperation amongst the states of Central and Southeastern Europe to establish
   an integrated regional natural gas market, catalyzed by aggregated regional
   demand, and supported by import infrastructure and affordable longer term
   commercial contracts with reliable partners, such as the United States.  
5. We commit to assisting Ukraine in restoring energy infrastructure
   damaged and destroyed during Russia’s ongoing war of aggression, and we commit
   to supporting, through joint Transatlantic efforts, nations whose energy
   security has been most negatively impacted by Russia’s unlawful invasion of
   Ukraine.   
6. We recognize the European Commission’s Roadmap to fully end EU
   dependency on Russian energy and commit to the complete phase out of Russian
   energy imports – gas, oil, and nuclear energy – across the transatlantic
   community, and in so doing cease funding Russia’s ability to wage war on its
   neighbors.  
7. We endeavor to mobilize public and private sector financing,
   including credit export agencies and multilateral financial institutions, to
   meet the regional energy objectives for the diversification and integration of
   energy supplies and transmission routes to bolster Europe’s energy security.    
8. We commit to strengthening and diversifying global energy supply
   chains, including LNG, nuclear energy, geothermal, critical minerals, as well
   as gas and electricity interconnectors and other grid components to prevent
   strategic vulnerabilities.  Energy technologies must be sourced from trusted
   partners, reducing the risks of dependency on unreliable suppliers with malign
   intent.  
9. We support investment in energy infrastructure, including LNG
   terminals, pipelines, gas compression, and cross-border gas and electricity
   grids, that connect Europe south to north and west to east.  Interoperable and
   modernized systems are the backbone of resilience.    
10. We acknowledge the growing threats to energy systems, both cyber
    and physical, from hostile actors across all domains with an emphasis on
    critical underwater infrastructure (i.e hybrid attacks on Baltic underwater
    electricity and telecom cables).  We commit to deeper collaboration on
    resilience, redundancy, and recovery planning.  
11. We affirm that each nation retains sovereign rights to chart its
    own energy path.  Innovation drives progress greater than onerous and
    inefficient mandates or regulation.  
12. We invite robust engagement from the private sector, civil
    society, and local actors, as demonstrated by the Partnership for Transatlantic
    Energy Cooperation Business Forum.  We emphasize that governments should
    enable, not replace, private initiative.  
13. We commit ourselves to convene a P-TEC Ministerial regularly to
    track our progress, adapt to the changing needs of the region, and identify new
    ways to meet the challenges of our energy future.  
14. We recognize the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) as an important
    mechanism to enhance our joint efforts on energy infrastructure development,
    technical cooperation, and investment, particularly in projects that facilitate
    greater energy independence and access to diverse supply.  
15. We express gratitude to the Ministry of Environment and Energy of
    the Hellenic Republic for hosting us in Athens and look forward to a productive
    year of cooperation, grounded in shared interests, mutual respect, and
    practical outcomes.  

Background:

Established under the
first Trump Administration, the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy
Cooperation (P-TEC) is the premier forum for energy cooperation in Central and
Eastern Europe.  P-TEC brings together the United States, 24 European
countries, and the European Commission and provides policymakers and civil
society stakeholders with the resources and technical tools to build energy
systems that are affordable, reliable, and secure.  The 6th P-TEC Ministerial and
Business Forum, hosted in Athens, Greece, was the largest P-TEC to date and
facilitated the signing of several landmark deals that will help support
European energy security and economic competitiveness for years to come.