ATHENS –
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Nov. 13 between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Greece to improve energy security and cooperation in the Western Balkans.
This partnership will advance collaboration between energy entities and authorities in Greece, Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo to integrate their electricity markets to create a more connected and secure region.
According to a press announcement by the U.S. Embassy, “this partnership is part of a larger USAID initiative, the U.S. – Europe Energy Bridge, which is creating a path to more reliable, affordable energy for businesses and consumers, and promoting integration with regional and global energy markets. Through Energy Bridge, USAID is creating more secure energy supply lines, linking the public and private sector to improve energy infrastructure, and protecting critical infrastructure from disasters ranging from floods to cyberattacks”.
On behalf of Greece the agreement was signed by the foreign ministry’s General Secretary for International Economic Relations and Openness/ Foreign Ministry, Maira Myrogianni and the General Secretary for Energy and Mineral Raw Materials/ Environment and Energy Ministry, Aristotelis Aivaliotis. Signing on behalf of the USAID was Ambassador Erin Elizabeth McKee.
In statements at the signing ceremony, Myrogianni noted the importance of the agreement for security in the Western Balkans and in creating a more sustainable, interconnected electricity market in the area, while Aivaliotis repeated Greece’s support for the European prospects of the Western Balkans.
Ambassador McKee said that it will help enhance cooperation between the energy organizations of Greece with those of the Western Balkans, promoting the integration of electricity markets and energy security.
