Mitsotakis welcomes Meridiam deal for Great Sea Interconnector

Athens, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed an agreement for French asset management firm Meridiam to become the majority shareholder in the company behind the Great Sea Interconnector, saying it would provide the Cyprus-Greece electricity link with greater financial and technical strength.

Interconnector agreement

In a social media post on Sunday, Mitsotakis said French cable manufacturer Nexans would undertake the challenging task of manufacturing and laying the cable, describing the agreement as “a strong vote of confidence” in Greece’s energy infrastructure.

He said the project would end Cyprus’ energy isolation by connecting the island to the Greek electricity grid, while strengthening Greece’s position as a regional energy hub and paving the way for increased use of clean energy from renewable sources.

Renewable energy framework

Mitsotakis also referred to Turkey’s reaction to Greece’s Special Spatial Framework for Renewable Energy Sources and what he described as a revival of “unfounded claims concerning grey zones”.

“Our position is clear and remains unchanged: Greece acts in accordance with international law, exercises its rights and will not allow threats or unlawful claims to determine its decisions,” he said.

The policy establishes defined geographic boundaries for renewable energy investments, outlining areas designated for industrial development and exclusion zones intended to safeguard natural habitats.

The proposed framework expands exclusion zones for wind, solar and storage projects, introduces new restrictions for islands and high-altitude areas, and links renewable permitting with tourism and environmental planning considerations.

Turkish response

The implementation of the framework prompted a response from Ankara because it also encompasses the Aegean Sea.

Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli, according to Kathimerini, said the framework, like other similar Greek initiatives, “will have no legal consequence” for Turkey.

The Turkish side linked its position to what it described as the “interrelated Aegean issues” and referred to “geographical formations whose sovereignty has not been transferred to Greece by international agreements”.