At the Athens Riviera Forum 2025 in Athens, Greece, Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou called the Vertical Gas Corridor “Europe’s new energy backbone” and stressed how cross-border links boost security and resilience. He pointed to Greece’s LNG terminals in Alexandroupoli and Revithoussa, the completed hydrocarbons tender with the Chevron-Helleniq Energy consortium, and power interconnectors tying the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe.
After his speech, the minister sat down with transmission system operators from Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine to look at tighter cooperation and a joint plan for regional upgrades and capacity planning.
He praised the operators and backed their joint statement asking national regulators to quickly approve an extension of “Route 1” for the 2025/2026 gas year. “From Athens we send a clear message: the Vertical Corridor links South to North, strengthens Greece’s role as an energy hub and shields our collective resilience,” Papastavrou said. In short, the agreement turns ambition into action.
What does this mean for the city?
For Athens and the wider Attica region, the forum confirmed the capital’s role as a place for energy diplomacy and market coordination. No technical specs were shared, but the emphasis on interconnections and LNG access shows ongoing work to keep supplies steady for households and businesses in Greece and nearby countries.
Who participated in the talks?
- Maria Rita Galli, CEO of DESFA S.A. (Greece)
- Nikola Delev, Director of Analysis and International Activities at Bulgartransgaz (Bulgaria)
- Ion Sterian, CEO of SNTGN Transgaz S.A. (Romania)
- Pawel Stánczak, Deputy CEO of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine LLC (Ukraine)
How will the Vertical Corridor improve security?
The minister said the Vertical Corridor ties southern entry points, including LNG terminals like Alexandroupoli and Revithoussa, with northern markets, which adds backup and flexibility. With stronger two-way flows across Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine, the region can handle peak demand better and ride out possible disruptions.
What changed compared to previous steps?
The new piece is the operators’ joint call for national regulatory authorities to approve the proposed 2025/2026 extension of Route 1, keeping capacity arrangements that make the corridor work. No timeline was given, and it will depend on the regulators.
When are the next steps?
What happens next depends on regulatory decisions and steady coordination among the operators. The Ministry of Environment and Energy said it will help keep the cooperation on track, but no dates were announced at the forum. Expect updates through official channels once the regulators reply.
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