What is said in the US-Greek communiqué about the pipeline that Kosovo rejected?

The Kosovo government tried to reason, after weeks of trying to push the formalisation of this project, which they said is a risk investment and is not compatible with Kosovo.

During yesterday, in a joint communiqué following the talks Greece-US also talked about American energy and gas pipeline. The section on this section said that the United States praised Greece for its role as a regional energy centre and the completion of the Trans-Adriatic Gas pipeline and for its progress in Interconnerator Greece Bulgaria.

This communique says that the parties have celebrated ever closer relations in the field of energy, trade and bilateral investments as a positive driver towards energy security and diversification goals, thus placing great importance in terms of American gas safety.

“The United States and Greece committed themselves to their common goals of increasing diversification and energy security, promoting fair and equal access to green energy sources and addressing climate change through designation policies. The United States praised Greece for its growing role as a regional energy centre and welcomed the completion of the Trans-Adriatic Gas pipeline and progress at Interconnerator Greece-Bulgaria), which will be operated in 2022. Greece shared developments in other regional energy projects that would further diversify regional energy supplies and coal removal, such as the planned Interconector between Greece and Northern Macedonia and the Lunder Masagation Regasification Unit in Akelsandorpoli. Both sides welcomed the increasingly inter-connected energy relations between Greece and the United States, both in terms of bilateral trade and investments, as well as positive boosting progress towards energy security and diversification goals. Greece noted the importance of natural gas discoveries from Israel, Cyprus and Egypt as a valuable diversified energy source for South and Southeast Europe”, the communiques reported, broadcast news.net.

Also, the communiqué says the US will increase their investments in energy projects in Greece and stressed the need for continued defuelisation and renewable energy development.

“Greece reiterated its intention to get rid of the lignite by 2025, and the United States praised Greece's steps in the National Energy Action Plan and Climate 2019. Both sides acknowledged the importance of a varied strategy to support the transition of energy and our broader goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. This includes opportunities to expand energy efficiency initiatives and increase the supply of clean energy sources such as the wind in the open sea, energy and hydrogen storage. The United States reiterated increased investments in green energy projects in Greece and stressed the need for continued defuelling and development of renewable energy, and Greece shared updates on its planned projects for wind farms and solar energy. The United States confirmed support for Greece's National Initiative for tackling climate impacts and changes in cultural and natural heritage and welcomed American companies' participation in Greece's renewable hydrogen energy initiatives. The two governments highlighted the unique role Greece can play in breaking up regional energy monopolies, facilitating energy investments in developing economies and facing the global climate crisis”, it is said further in the communique.

The government for several weeks after reports in the media denied to have rejected the US gas pipeline. However, days ago, Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli at a media conference confirmed that Kosovo has refused this project, saying funds will be used for other investments.

The “Facing the MCC deadlines, we have decided to move forward and use automatic investment for the computer programme, for lower risk investment, but that helps Kosovo design the energy sector and create the conditions for economic development and private sector development”, it said at a news conference Thursday.

Kosovo's government has been sharply criticised by economic and energy connoisseurs, even security and policy connoisseurs, for refusing this project. They have considered the American gas pipeline important not only in terms of energy and economics but also in geopolitical and security.

President Biden's administration in 2021 had introduced Kosovo to federal agency budget The MCC, where it was envisioned for Kosovo to benefit $200m irreversible to build gas-pixes towards northern Macedonia and Greece, where it would then be connected to the TAP network (Trans-Adriatic Pipeline) or other sources.

Otherwise, in this US-Greek communiqué it has also been talked about Kosovo, and both sides have agreed that they support the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans, including Kosovo.

“The United States and Greece continue to strongly support the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans, including Kosovo, and emphasise the urgent importance of the membership negotiations between the EU and Albania and North Macedonia, under the defined conditions”, the statement said.

The two sides highlighted recent successes in national public health policies designed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, and cited the need to distribute dezinformation and other beneficial effects threatening public safety. The two sides discussed priorities in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Greece shared the progress made in the integration of asylum seekers and refugees; the two countries stated the importance of respecting the human rights of asylum seekers, migrants and refugees”, the statement added.

On the other hand, the world has recently been plunged into a power crisis, a crisis that Kosovo is not immune to. Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli has not denied the expensive possibility of electricity bills over the next year, and has called for citizens not to warm up this winter.