The EastMed Pipeline: What is Happening?
Throughout the past years, the “Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline,” an ambitious pipeline project launched in 2020 following the agreement signed in Athens by Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, has frequently appeared in international news, particularly those concerning the oil and gas industry. According to the original plans, the pipeline should transport natural gas from the Israeli gas field Leviathan through the Cypriot one, Aphrodite, to Greece and then to neighboring Italy as well as other European countries. Undoubtedly, it seemed the perfect alternative to decrease the EU’s dependence on Russian gas. But what caused the project’s demise?
The new Italian Democratic Party
Recently, Nicola Zingaretti has resigned as secretary of the Italian Democratic Party. Zingaretti’s resignation was unexpected and created a crisis – which was ultimately solved by the election of the former PM Enrico Letta as the new secretary. Before his election, Letta gave a long speech addressing various issues. His main goal appears to reform the Party for new future challenges.
Italy’s complex domestic situation
In a short time, Prime Minister Draghi cleared the chain of command of Conte’s previous government, consistent with the premises that accompanied the establishment of the new government, characterised by the central role of the Prime Minister and his collaborators and their two main objectives: reach herd immunity and reignite the Italian economy through the Next Generation EU investments.