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.