Energy Ministers from the European Union (EU), North Africa and the East Mediterranean agreed in principle to establish a "Euro-Mediterranean Platform on Gas", a joint statement said Friday.
The platform would assist in the development of Euro-Mediterranean relations on gas issues, according to the statement issued by Gunther H. Oettinger, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for energy, and Konrad Mizzi, Minister for Energy and Health of the Government of Malta said after the conference "Security of gas supply - The role of gas developments in the Mediterranean region" that was held in Malta.
"Its aim will be in particular to ensure greater convergence between the policies of the various countries ... cooperate on the domain of safety and security and work together on the promotion of regional energy security," the statement said.
The Euro-Med gas platform would contribute to the ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing Europe's energy security and meeting specific 2030 interconnection objectives, it said.
Energy Ministers from the EU, North Africa and the East Mediterranean, high officials, industry representatives and key stakeholders in the energy sector who participated in the conference held on Thursday and Friday, discussed the possibility of this platform playing a key role in the creation of a Mediterranean Gas Hub in line with the European Energy Security Strategy, the statement said.