Today, May 17^th 2023, the Chairs and representatives of National Regulatory Authorities from the member countries of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), CERA (Cyprus), GASREG (Egypt), CRE (France), RAE(Greece), NGA(Israel), ARERA (Italy), EMRC(Jordan), PNA (Palestine) have gathered in Cyprus for the 4^th RAAC meeting (hybrid mode). The meeting has been kindly hosted by the Vice-Chair of RAAC and CERA’s Chairman Dr. Andreas Poullikkas in its premises in the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority in Nicosia.

The meeting was opened by statements by the EMGF Secretary General, H.E. Osama Mobarez as well as the RAAC Vice-Chairman and CERA’s Chairman, Dr. Andreas Poullikkas. Both greeted the participants, while noting the utmost importance of collaboration for sustainable future and the role that RAAC is playing in the East Med region especially during these challenging times.

The 4^th RAAC meeting started with the Regulators’ Presidents roundtable discussion that focused on topics related to recommendations to enhance investment climate, attractiveness and innovation. The presidents stressed the necessity of transparent and clear regulatory framework that will create an attractive environment for investments and enable at the same time the development of innovative solutions to the benefit of consumers.

The RAAC members approved the RAAC’s workplan and position paper in connection to the “Long-term Strategy” of EMGF that targets at unlocking the East Mediterranean gas potential for the benefit of the consumers and the activities’ timeline.

During the meeting, RAAC members presented the work delivered so far. RAE presented an overview of the regulatory frameworks currently in place in each of the EMGF member countries, as a leader for the activity. CERA, as the leader of the activity titled “Projects for regional integration”, presented the progress of the study that aims in identifying and classifying all the challenges related to the development of cross-border interconnection projects.

During the Meeting, members also discussed the RAAC’s Rules and Procedures aiming at regulating the organization and functioning of the RAAC.

An open discussion, moderated by CERA, on the preparatory work on EMGF Ministerial meeting followed. Members agreed to convene the next RAAC meeting in Cairo in July 2023, back-to-back with the Ministerial Meeting of EMGF.

The Vice-Chairman of RAAC thanked all the attendees for the constructive discussion and stressed the importance of RAAC to continue serving as a cooperation platform for creating a structured dialogue on gas as well as formulating joint strategies and regional gas policies based on shared vision.