Greece and France propose plan for Eastern Mediterranean power cable

Greece and France are reportedly developing a “French formula” to restart the Eastern Mediterranean electricity interconnector project, aiming to avoid direct maritime confrontations with Turkey. The plan involves using a French-flagged survey vessel and potentially having Paris issue formal notices to coastal states regarding upcoming cable-laying operations scheduled for October.

The project, known as the Great Sea Interconnector, seeks to link the electricity grids of Greece and Cyprus, with future plans to extend the connection to Israel. The European Commission views the multibillion-euro initiative as a vital step toward strengthening energy security and integrating Cyprus into the European electricity grid.

Turkey has expressed opposition to the project, asserting that the planned routes cross waters where Ankara claims sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its continental shelf. The Turkish Defense Ministry stated that activities such as laying cables or pipelines in these areas must be coordinated with Ankara in advance in accordance with international law. Turkey maintains that the flag state of any survey vessel should contact Ankara through diplomatic channels to mitigate the risk of incidents.