Title: A resolution affirming that the United States supports the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum and the Eastern Mediterranean gas pipeline.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution celebrates the establishment of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum and congratulates its members for their success in building an international forum to advance Eastern Mediterranean energy. It also calls on all states to support the forum and the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 271 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 271

Affirming that the United States supports the Eastern Mediterranean Gas 
           Forum and the Eastern Mediterranean gas pipeline.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 15, 2021

    Mr. Cruz (for himself and Mr. Barrasso) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Affirming that the United States supports the Eastern Mediterranean Gas 
           Forum and the Eastern Mediterranean gas pipeline.

Whereas, on January 14, 2019, the representatives from Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, 
        Israel, Italy, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority convened in Cairo, 
        Egypt to discuss establishing the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum 
        (EMGF);
Whereas, on December 20, 2019, the United States Congress passed the Eastern 
        Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 (title II of 
        division J of Public Law 116-94), which states it is the policy of the 
        United States to promote and deepen energy security cooperation and 
        development between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel and to support the 
        Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline;
Whereas, on January 2, 2020, Israel, Greece, and Cyprus signed an agreement to 
        build an Eastern Mediterranean pipeline to connect the Eastern 
        Mediterranean energy market to southern Europe;
Whereas, on January 16, 2020, Egypt hosted a forum with representatives of 
        Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority to 
        finalize the framework for launching the EMGF;
Whereas, on September 23, 2020, the six member states of the EMGF held a signing 
        ceremony that formally transformed the forum into a regional 
        intergovernmental organization based in Cairo, Egypt;
Whereas, on December 16, 2020, the United Arab Emirates joined the EMGF and 
        Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said ``the UAE will contribute 
        to the forum's activities to serve strategic interests and enhance 
        cooperation and partnership between the forum countries'';
Whereas, on March 1, 2021, the EMGF Statute entered into force;
Whereas, on March 9, 2021, the EMGF accepted France as a member;
Whereas the United States and the European Union are permanent observers of the 
        EMGF;
Whereas a vibrant regional gas market will promote prosperity and provide a 
        sustainable path for economic development;
Whereas the EMGF promotes technical and market collaboration in energy, 
        including by ensuring a competitive price for natural gas, the 
        development of new energy technologies, and increased cooperation on 
        cyber security;
Whereas the EMGF and the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline will provide European 
        nations with robust energy alternatives and decrease reliance on the 
        Russian Federation;
Whereas the United States has been a steadfast supporter of the creation of the 
        EMGF as well as the agreement between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus to 
        support the completion of the Eastern Mediterranean pipeline;
Whereas Dan Brouillette, then-United States Secretary of Energy, notes the 
        ``immense benefits that natural gas will bring to the region, but to 
        growing markets around the world'';
Whereas Frank Fannon, then-United States Assistant Secretary of State for Energy 
        Resources, echoes that ``energy resources are a catalyst for 
        cooperation'';
Whereas George Lakkotrypis, then-Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and 
        Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus, said that ``U.S. support in creating 
        an Eastern Mediterranean corridor is profound and solid'';
Whereas Tarek El-Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Arab 
        Republic of Egypt, stated, ``The EMGF will be acknowledged throughout 
        history as a unique and bold endeavor, since it aspires to become an 
        exemption to the historic norm of perceiving our current and prospective 
        energy wealth as a motivation for conflict'';
Whereas Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, stated that the Eastern 
        Mediterranean Pipeline ``is a pipeline for peace and cooperation between 
        the peoples of the region'';
Whereas Yuval Steinitz, Minister of Energy of the State of Israel, said the EMGF 
        ``brings regional cooperation with Arab and European countries, the 
        first of its kind in history'';
Whereas Hala Zawati, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Hashemite 
        Kingdom of Jordan, stated, ``Within the Eastern Mediterranean and 
        utilizing our gas resources and infrastructure--cooperating and working 
        together, given all the challenges, became a must. We believe that this 
        platform will serve to enhance dialogue between countries to reach a 
        clear regional vision, a vision that translates into policies for a 
        sustainable regional gas market in the Eastern Mediterranean.''; and
Whereas the EMGF is part of a growing network of regional agreements and 
        frameworks that provide the basis for long-term peace and cooperation on 
        vital issues related to diplomatic engagement, collective security, 
        economic growth, and energy development, including the Abraham Accords, 
        signed on September 15, 2020, by the United States, Israel, the United 
        Arab Emirates, and Bahrain: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) celebrates the establishment of the Eastern 
        Mediterranean Gas Forum and congratulates the members for their 
        success in building an international forum to advance Eastern 
        Mediterranean energy;
            (2) commends the members for demonstrating a commitment to 
        multilateral cooperation leading to mutual economic and energy 
        security;
            (3) recognizes the historical significance of Jewish, Arab, 
        and Christian peoples working together to advance prosperity 
        and security within the region;
            (4) notes the strategic importance of the Eastern 
        Mediterranean pipeline in enhancing European energy security 
        and decreasing reliance on Russian energy exports; and
            (5) calls on all states to support the Eastern 
        Mediterranean Gas Forum and the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline.
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