I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3307 
To increase cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region 
in order to strengthen energy security and defense capabilities, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 8, 2025 
Mr. SCHNEIDER (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Ms. TITUS, Ms. MALLIOTAKIS, 
and Mr. PAPPAS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To increase cooperation with countries in the Eastern Medi-
terranean region in order to strengthen energy security 
and defense capabilities, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Eastern Mediterranean 
Gateway Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to support the role of East-
ern Mediterranean countries as a strategic gateway in the 
India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). 
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SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The India-Middle East-Europe Economic 
Corridor (IMEC), launched at the G20 Summit in 
2023 with G7 backing, enhances connectivity be-
tween Asia, the Middle East, and Europe while serv-
ing as a strategic alternative to China’s Belt and 
Road Initiative. 
(2) The Eastern Mediterranean region is of 
strategic importance to the United States and its al-
lies, as demonstrated by the United States founding 
role in the 3+1 framework with Greece, Israel, and 
Cyprus. 
(3) Energy projects such as the Great Sea 
Interconnector, the Gregy Interconnection Project, 
the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector, and the LNG 
terminals in the Eastern Mediterranean play a key 
role in European energy security and provide critical 
infrastructure that can serve as the backbone for 
linking India, the Gulf, and Europe through the 
Eastern Mediterranean. 
(4) Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, and Israel are key 
United States partners in promoting stability, secu-
rity, and economic development in the region. 
(5) Enhanced defense and security cooperation, 
as well as educational and cultural exchanges, are 
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essential for strengthening bilateral and multilateral 
ties. 
(6) According to Presidential Determination 
2025–03, ‘‘the furnishing of defense articles and de-
fense services to the Republic of Cyprus will 
strengthen the security of the United States and 
promote world peace’’. 
(7) The statement of policy in the Israel Rela-
tions Normalization Act of 2022 (22 U.S.C. 8601 
note), notably that it is the policy of the United 
States ‘‘to expand and strengthen the Abraham Ac-
cords to encourage other nations to normalize rela-
tions with Israel’’, should guide the Secretary of 
State and other United States actors in their work 
to promote integration between India, the Middle 
East and southeast Europe. 
(8) India has strengthened strategic ties with 
Greece, Israel, and Cyprus, fostering economic, mar-
itime, and security cooperation that aligns with 
United States regional priorities. 
(9) The success of the India-Middle East-Eu-
rope Economic Corridor depends on infrastructure, 
security, and innovation partnerships rooted in the 
Eastern Mediterranean region, which serves as the 
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primary connective hub linking the Gulf and Indian 
subcontinent to Europe. 
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the significance of diplomatic initiatives 
such as the Greece-Cyprus-Israel-US ‘‘3+1’’ format, 
the East Mediterranean Gas Forum and the Abra-
ham Accords should be recognized and the United 
States should maintain its leadership role in these 
diplomatic initiatives; 
(2) the United States should continue to ac-
tively participate in the initiatives of the East Medi-
terranean Gas Forum; 
(3) the Eastern Mediterranean region is a key 
gateway that can link three continents and the 
United States should support energy and transpor-
tation infrastructure, connectivity initiatives, defense 
cooperation, and other forms of integration in and 
around the region; 
(4) the United States recognizes the unique role 
of Eastern Mediterranean countries as both a dis-
tinct subregion and a central connector within the 
broader IMEC corridor; 
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(5) the ‘‘3+1’’ diplomatic initiative should re-
sume with a meeting of the Secretary of State with 
the Ministers of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus; and 
(6) the statement of policy in section 203 of the 
Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Part-
nership Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 2373 note) should 
guide 
the 
Secretary 
of 
State 
in 
promoting 
connectivity between India, the Middle East and Eu-
rope, including participation in the trilateral dia-
logue on energy, maritime security, cyber security 
and protection of critical infrastructure conducted 
among Israel, Greece, and Cyprus. 
SEC. 5. DIPLOMACY IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION. 
(a) STRATEGIC DIALOGUES.—The Secretary of State 
may institutionalize multilateral strategic dialogues be-
tween the United States and IMEC countries, including 
dedicated formats with Eastern Mediterranean countries, 
with which the United States has a bilateral strategic dia-
logue. 
(b) PRIORITIZATION OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRA-
NEAN.—The Secretary of State shall prioritize the East-
ern Mediterranean region in United States foreign policy, 
focusing on energy security and defense cooperation with 
countries in such region. 
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SEC. 6. REPORTS AND STUDIES. 
(a) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
annually thereafter, the Secretary of Energy, in coordina-
tion with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees a report describing the 
implementation and effect of this Act, including an update 
on energy projects and defense cooperation that are being 
carried out pursuant to the authorities of this Act and 
the amendments made by this Act. 
(b) REPORT ON MULTILATERAL INITIATIVES.—Not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of State shall provide to the appropriate 
congressional committees a briefing on each multilateral 
initiative between the United States and IMEC countries. 
(c) ANALYSIS OF CYPRUS CENTRE FOR LAND, OPEN 
SEAS, AND PORT SECURITY.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, shall analyze insights gained from the operation 
of the Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas, and Port Secu-
rity (in this section referred to as ‘‘CYCLOPS’’) as a po-
tential model for broad-based multilateral cooperation. 
(d) STUDY OF PROGRAM CREATION AND EXPAN-
SION.—Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation 
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with the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees a report describing the 
cost of, steps to, and feasibility of— 
(1) creating bilateral programs with Eastern 
Mediterranean countries modeled on bilateral pro-
grams between the United States and Israel, includ-
ing— 
(A) the Binational Agriculture Research 
and Development Fund; 
(B) the United States-Israel Binational In-
dustrial Research and Development Foundation 
(including projects relating to homeland secu-
rity and cyber security); 
(C) the United States-Israel Binational 
Science Foundation; and 
(D) the United States-Israel Science and 
Technology Foundation; and 
(2) expanding bilateral programs between the 
United States and Israel, including the programs 
listed in paragraph (1), to include other Eastern 
Mediterranean countries and IMEC countries. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources and the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions of the Senate. 
(2) EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRY.—The 
term ‘‘Eastern Mediterranean country’’ means the 
following: 
(A) The Arab Republic of Egypt. 
(B) The Hellenic Republic. 
(C) The Republic of Cyprus. 
(D) The State of Israel. 
(3) IMEC COUNTRY.—The term ‘‘IMEC coun-
try’’ means the following: 
(A) The European Union. 
(B) The Federal Republic of Germany. 
(C) The French Republic. 
(D) The Italian Republic. 
(E) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 
(F) The Republic of India. 
(G) The United Arab Emirates. 
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(H) The United States. 
(I) Any other country that the Secretary of 
State designates as an IMEC country for pur-
poses of this Act. 
Æ 
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