BRIEF HISTORY
Many significant gas discoveries have recently been made in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the basin gas resource prospects remains promising. These new discoveries represent challenges and opportunities for the region as well as the world natural gas market. The full potential of the Eastern Mediterranean basin can only be unlocked if suppliers, buyers and transient countries of gas in this region cooperate on developing infrastructure for gas trade, both within the region and with external markets.
Hence, a regional cooperation and a structured policy dialogue is important in order to coordinate the efforts and optimize the utilization of the available infrastructure in the quick monetization of existing and future reserves in this vital region, surrounded by emerging economies in south Mediterranean and huge markets in North Mediterranean.
This outline was the base underpinning the establishment of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum EMGF as a platform for Gas producer, consumer and transient countries.
In 2018, Egypt introduced an Initiative to establish the East Mediterranean Gas Forum as a platform for structured policy dialogue on natural gas, leading to the development of a sustainable regional gas market that could unlock the full gas resource potential in the East Mediterranean region.
During the tripartite summit held in October 2018 at Crete, Presidents of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece declared their intentions to establish the Forum, accordingly, further coordination with regional parties and international organizations took place.
The Egyptian initiative was welcomed and sincerely adopted by the rest of the Founding Members; Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestine (together with Egypt) as an initiative that sets the base for a structured policy dialogue leading to the development of a regional gas market to unlock the full gas resource potential and to set the stage for multilateral and full hub trade.

Mission
Developing A Sustainable Regional Gas Market
Serving the whole region whilst the nations’ rights, their natural gas resources, & their independence to utilize all their resources for the welfare of their people.8
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Objectives
Gas Discoveries
These new discoveries represent challenges and opportunities for the region as well as the world natural gas market.
Cooperation
It was clear for the eastern Mediterranean Countries that the key to creating a structured and systematic dialogue on natural gas; is through focusing on governmental cooperation and endeavor to set common strategies based on shared vision for the future of the region’s resources.
Structured Policy Dialogue
The importance of the dialogue is to coordinate the efforts and optimize the utilization of the available infrastructure.
Quick Monetization
The existence of present and future reserves in this vital region, are surrounded by emerging economies in the south & north of the Mediterranean.