[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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