A new legislative push in the U.S. Congress aims to formalize the country’s commitment to enhancing the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), particularly focusing on the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The legislation, named the “Law for the Eastern Mediterranean as a Strategic Gateway,” was introduced by Congressman Brad Schneider from Illinois. It directs U.S. efforts toward essential infrastructure in IMEC member states like Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt, intending to improve connectivity.
Key aspects of the legislation include:
- Emphasizing the significance of specific energy projects such as the Great Sea Interconnector, the Greece-Egypt GREGY electricity link, the Greece-Bulgaria pipeline, and new liquefied natural gas terminals, all of which are vital for the IMEC’s development.
- Requesting the U.S. Secretary of State to consider expanding bilateral research and development programs that are currently focused on Israel to include other nations in the region.
- Encouraging the U.S. Secretary of State to advocate for multilateral cooperation frameworks, with particular focus on the “3+1” initiative and the CYCLOPS center in Cyprus as models of regional collaboration.
- Supporting efforts to enhance Israel’s diplomatic and economic relationships with neighboring countries to foster regional integration.
Ultimately, the legislation requires annual reports to Congress detailing the progress of multilateral initiatives and the status of defense and energy projects.
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