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- He said Europe shifted to supplies from the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East and North Africa after Russian gas was cut.
- Papanastasiou said supply disruptions and transport risks, including in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz, are pushing up international fossil fuel prices.
- He said fuel tax cuts in Cyprus can ease pressure temporarily, but permanent solutions require affordable fuel and secure supply across the chain.
- He argued the Great Sea Interconnector is strategically important for Cyprus and said the route is unlikely to change despite Turkey’s objections.
Former Energy Minister George Papanastasiou has discussed Europe’s energy crisis, high fuel prices and the Great Sea Interconnector, arguing that the continent remains heavily dependent on energy supplies from outside Europe.
Speaking on Sigma TV’s “Protoselido” programme, Papanastasiou said Europe continues to rely heavily on imported fossil fuels, particularly natural gas.
He said that after Russian gas supplies were cut, Europe turned to other regions, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East and North Africa, while smaller quantities come from countries such as Kazakhstan.
Renewables cannot yet replace fossil fuels
Papanastasiou said Europe had chosen to invest in renewable energy technologies in an effort to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
However, he argued that renewables have not yet developed enough to fully replace fossil fuels, meaning Europe’s dependence on external energy sources is likely to remain.
He said problems affecting supply sources and transport routes, particularly in the Middle East and corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz, are contributing to high international fossil fuel prices.
These costs are ultimately reflected in prices at the pump, he said, as fuel prices are linked to Brent crude, the benchmark price for crude oil before refining.
Fuel tax cuts offer only temporary relief
Asked about the possibility of further tax reductions on fuel in Cyprus, Papanastasiou said governments have several tools available to reduce pressure on consumers.
These include cutting excise duties, reducing VAT or removing certain taxes altogether.
However, he noted that petroleum products provide governments with significant revenues.
Regarding Cyprus, Papanastasiou said the excise duty on certain fuels has already been reduced, while the situation concerning heating oil is expected to become clearer.
He stressed that such measures are temporary rather than permanent solutions.
“The permanent solutions are to provide the entire supply chain ending with the consumer with fuels that are, first, affordable and, second, sufficient in quantity,” he said, stressing the importance of both affordability and security of supply.
Great Sea Interconnector has major strategic importance
The discussion also focused on the Great Sea Interconnector and Turkey’s opposition to the project.
Papanastasiou said the Eastern Mediterranean could become a major energy corridor linking supplies from the Middle East and potentially Asia with Europe.
“Anything that connects these two, the Middle East and Asia with Europe, passing through a country, makes that country a hub,” he said.
He argued that the strategic importance of such an energy corridor is particularly significant for Cyprus.
Papanastasiou links Turkish opposition to Cyprus’ energy position
Papanastasiou said Turkey opposes the Great Sea Interconnector because, in his view, it wants to keep Cyprus isolated.
He argued that Cyprus’ participation in regional energy flows would strengthen its strategic position and reduce its dependence on other countries.
According to Papanastasiou, Turkey does not want Cyprus to become part of the region’s energy flows because this could give the Republic of Cyprus a greater role in controlling energy routes and turn the island into a strategic energy point.
He also argued that maintaining Cyprus’ energy dependence leaves it in a weaker position.
Submarine cables and Turkey’s continental shelf claims
Papanastasiou also addressed the issue of informing coastal states about the laying of submarine cables.
He said international law experts had argued that a coastal state should be informed when a submarine cable is laid on its continental shelf.
However, he said the dispute arises from Turkey’s claims regarding the coordinates along the cable route and its position that islands do not generate continental shelf rights.
He specifically referred to Turkey’s position regarding the continental shelves of Crete, Karpathos, Kasos and Kastellorizo.
Cable route unlikely to change
Asked whether the cable route could be altered to avoid Turkish objections, Papanastasiou said he did not expect this to happen.
He said the corridors connecting Cyprus with Crete are specific and have already been used by telecommunications cables.
According to Papanastasiou, seabed surveys are intended to confirm that these corridors are available and do not present obstacles to the project.
He added that the route of the Great Sea Interconnector is unlikely to change, although an electrical cable would be placed at a distance from telecommunications cables to avoid interference.
New Turkish marine park does not overlap route
Papanastasiou also referred to a marine park announced by Turkey in August 2026.
He said the coordinates of the park do not overlap with the planned route of the electrical interconnection.
In his view, the marine park therefore should not lead to any change in the route of the Great Sea Interconnector.
Seabed survey should proceed
Papanastasiou stressed that the seabed survey should move forward to confirm the corridor initially selected using specific coordinates.
He said the route lies in international waters and, based on international law, does not fall within Turkey’s continental shelf.
For that reason, he argued that Turkey should not be required to grant permission for the route.
He distinguished, however, between informing Turkey and seeking its approval.
“Informing it for the sake of information, to avoid incidents in the area, is another matter,” he said, stressing that notification does not amount to obtaining permission from the coastal state.
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