Cooperation within the 3+1 energy scheme aimed at strengthening energy security in the Eastern Mediterranean is being further reinforced, according to Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy.The ministry said the ministerial meeting held in Houston, Texas, was successfully completed with the participation of Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Cyprus Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michalis Damianos, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Dr. Yechiel Leiter, and Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Energy Moshe Dayan.The 3+1 initiative was described by participants as a catalyst for a new generation of strategic energy infrastructure in the region, with cybersecurity and interconnection projects identified as emerging priorities for the work programme.The meeting reaffirmed the strategic importance of the 3+1 scheme for Eastern Mediterranean energy security, with all parties recognising its evolution into a key driver of regional infrastructure development and cooperation.The session was followed at Rice University by the signing of a declaration establishing the East Med Energy Center (EMEC), which will serve as a permanent hub for research and development on energy security and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. The centre is expected to strengthen synergies among participating states and support business and innovation activity in the energy sector.During the signing ceremony, Minister Stavros Papastavrou described the moment as “historic,” stating that Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the United States are joining forces to deepen strategic cooperation and enhance connectivity in the region through the creation of the East Med Energy Center (EMEC).He said the EMEC would provide a permanent framework for advancing regional stability, energy security and economic cooperation, bringing together scientific expertise, academic excellence, the private sector, technological innovation and energy know-how within a leading global academic institution.“Energy must never be weaponized. Unilateral actions and threats that undermine regional stability have no place in our shared future,” he said, adding that the 3+1 scheme has demonstrated that trusted partners with a common strategic vision can deliver tangible results and contribute to a more secure and affordable energy future.Papastavrou also noted the symbolic dimension of the EMEC, highlighting the enduring ties of Hellenism, the close relationship between Greece and Cyprus, the long-standing partnership with the United States and the strategic importance of Greek-Israeli cooperation.Earlier, Papastavrou held a bilateral working meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, focusing on developments regarding the Vertical Gas Corridor, the interest expressed by Serbia and North Macedonia in joining an expanded version of the project, progress on an exploratory drilling scheduled for February 2027 in the Northwest Ionian Sea by Exxon, and Chevron’s growing interest in Greece’s hydrocarbons sector.