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Great Sea Interconnector Advances Cyprus-Israel Investment Process

by News Editor

August 13, 2026

The Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) has taken another step forward after Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (Admie) submitted an investment request for the Cyprus-Israel electricity link to the energy regulators of both countries.

Marking the next stage of the project under the European Union’s Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) framework, the application comes amid renewed efforts to advance the strategic connection between Greece, Cyprus and Israel. French infrastructure investment group Meridiam recently became the majority shareholder in the GSI project company, while Greek and Israeli officials have also stepped up discussions on the Cyprus-Israel section.

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Investment Framework Moves To Regulatory Review

Admie said the request follows completion of the required cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and cross-border cost allocation proposal (CBCA). Authorities and grid operators in Cyprus and Israel were consulted during the studies, which also incorporated updated forecasts for electricity demand, renewable energy development and future grid requirements.

According to the findings, the Cyprus-Israel interconnection remains economically viable under all scenarios examined. The project is also expected to strengthen electricity supply security, support renewable energy integration and connect the eastern Mediterranean electricity market more closely with the wider European grid.

Regulators in Cyprus and Israel will now formally assess the investment request and jointly determine how the project’s costs will be allocated between the two countries and recovered through regulated revenues.

Following approval of the investment framework, the project can move towards a final investment decision, allowing financing arrangements to proceed. Admie also plans to attract additional investors to the Cyprus-Israel section, following the model used for the Greece-Cyprus leg.

1,000MW Link To Connect Cyprus And Israel

Designated by the EU as a Project of Common Interest, GSI will have a transmission capacity of 1,000MW using a 500kV high-voltage direct current system. A planned submarine cable between Cyprus and Israel will stretch approximately 324 kilometres at depths of up to 2,400 metres, allowing electricity to flow in both directions.

Last week, Energy Minister Michael Damianos welcomed Meridiam’s entry into the project and said Cyprus would await the European Investment Bank’s due diligence assessment before considering whether the Republic should become a shareholder.

Separately, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US International Development Finance Corporation chief executive Ben Black to prioritise GSI, citing its importance for regional energy security and cooperation.

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Europe’s Busiest Ports Show The Scale Of Maritime Trade

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 7, 2026

Maritime transport carried roughly 13 billion tonnes of goods worldwide in 2024, highlighting its central role in global trade and supply chains. EU ports handled about 3.4 billion tonnes, or 26% of the global total, while nearly 90% of the bloc’s external freight trade is carried by sea.

Rotterdam And Antwerp-Bruges Lead The EU

Rotterdam was the EU’s busiest port in 2024, handling 397.3 million tonnes of goods. Antwerp-Bruges ranked second with 243.7 million tonnes, putting the two northern European hubs well ahead of the rest.

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Hamburg ranked third at 97 million tonnes, followed by Spain’s Algeciras at 81.5 million tonnes and Amsterdam at 78.8 million tonnes. France’s HAROPA port complex, covering Le Havre and Rouen, handled 76.6 million tonnes, while Gdansk recorded 71 million tonnes.

Marseille and Valencia followed with 66 million and 64.5 million tonnes, respectively. Romania’s Constanta completed the top 10 at 57.6 million tonnes, reflecting the Black Sea’s role in Europe’s wider trade network.

Europe’s Second Tier Of Major Ports

Several ports handled between 40 million and 56 million tonnes in 2024. Barcelona recorded 55.5 million tonnes, followed by Trieste at 53.5 million, Genoa at 47.4 million and Sines at 44.1 million.

Piraeus handled 43.7 million tonnes, while Germany’s Bremerhaven recorded 42.5 million. Sweden’s Göteborg handled 38.5 million tonnes and Dunkerque in France 36.8 million.

Netherlands Leads By National Port Volume

Looking at total cargo across each country’s ports, the Netherlands ranked first with 538.1 million tonnes in 2024. Italy followed with 488.6 million tonnes and Spain with 486 million tonnes, putting all three well ahead of the rest of the EU.

Belgium ranked fourth at 274.9 million tonnes, followed by Germany at 273.9 million and France at 269.8 million. Greece, Sweden and Poland each handled more than 100 million tonnes, showing the breadth of Europe’s maritime network.

Turkey Expands The Regional Picture

Including EU candidate countries and EFTA members puts Turkey in second place with 524.7 million tonnes, behind the Netherlands. Norway ranked eighth with 212.1 million tonnes and handled 212.1 million tonnes.

The European Commission has described maritime transport as a long-standing driver of European economic development. Its role now extends beyond moving cargo, with ports increasingly tied to supply chains, energy security and industrial policy.

In March 2026, the Commission adopted two strategies focused on competitiveness, sustainability, security and resilience across the EU’s waterborne sector, including ports, shipping and shipbuilding.