Southern Supply, European Security: UfM Workshop in Istanbul
On Monday 26 October 2026, the UfM working group on Gas, Emissions Abatement and Hydrogen held a workshop in Istanbul, Türkiye, on “The Role of South Mediterranean in EU Gas Supply Security”. OMEC presented a draft report on the topic and its key findings. Mr Gergely Molnar from the International Energy Agency shared the Agency’s insights and participants provided feedback ahead of the report’s finalization.
They agreed that the EU gas market is facing structural changes. LNG has become a stable source of base load supply and a necessity, while the EU’s reliance on the global energy market is expected to continue increasing amid geopolitical complexity and uncertainty over future gas demand.
In this context, South Mediterranean countries could make an important contribution to EU gas supply security in the next 5 to 10 years. However, for this, several challenges should be overcome. For instance, converting discoveries into production capacity in the region requires investment, long-term contracts, and stronger cooperation between the EU, supplier countries, and companies.
The event brought together about 30 delegates from institutions and the industry from both shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The workshop took place as a dedicated session within the Türkiye Energy Summit held in Istanbul on 26-27 October 2026.
More info available at turkeyenergysummit.com.