May 8, 2025
Mr. Schneider (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Ms. Titus, Ms. Malliotakis, and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
To increase cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region in order to strengthen energy security and defense capabilities, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act
.
Sec. 2. Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to support the role of Eastern Mediterranean countries as a strategic gateway in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
Sec. 3. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), launched at the G20 Summit in 2023 with G7 backing, enhances connectivity between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe while serving as a strategic alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
(2)
The Eastern Mediterranean region is of strategic importance to the United States and its allies, as demonstrated by the United States founding role in the 3+1 framework with Greece, Israel, and Cyprus.
(3)
Energy projects such as the Great Sea Interconnector, the Gregy Interconnection Project, the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector, and the LNG terminals in the Eastern Mediterranean play a key role in European energy security and provide critical infrastructure that can serve as the backbone for linking India, the Gulf, and Europe through the Eastern Mediterranean.
(4)
Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, and Israel are key United States partners in promoting stability, security, and economic development in the region.
(5)
Enhanced defense and security cooperation, as well as educational and cultural exchanges, are essential for strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties.
(6)
According to Presidential Determination 2025–03, the furnishing of defense articles and defense services to the Republic of Cyprus will strengthen the security of the United States and promote world peace
.
(7)
The statement of policy in the Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2022 (22 U.S.C. 8601 note), notably that it is the policy of the United States to expand and strengthen the Abraham Accords to encourage other nations to normalize relations with Israel
, should guide the Secretary of State and other United States actors in their work to promote integration between India, the Middle East and southeast Europe.
(8)
India has strengthened strategic ties with Greece, Israel, and Cyprus, fostering economic, maritime, and security cooperation that aligns with United States regional priorities.
(9)
The success of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor depends on infrastructure, security, and innovation partnerships rooted in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which serves as the primary connective hub linking the Gulf and Indian subcontinent to Europe.
Sec. 4. Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
the significance of diplomatic initiatives such as the Greece-Cyprus-Israel-US 3+1
format, the East Mediterranean Gas Forum and the Abraham Accords should be recognized and the United States should maintain its leadership role in these diplomatic initiatives;
(2)
the United States should continue to actively participate in the initiatives of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum;
(3)
the Eastern Mediterranean region is a key gateway that can link three continents and the United States should support energy and transportation infrastructure, connectivity initiatives, defense cooperation, and other forms of integration in and around the region;
(4)
the United States recognizes the unique role of Eastern Mediterranean countries as both a distinct subregion and a central connector within the broader IMEC corridor;
(5)
the 3+1
diplomatic initiative should resume with a meeting of the Secretary of State with the Ministers of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus; and
(6)
the statement of policy in section 203 of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 2373 note) should guide the Secretary of State in promoting connectivity between India, the Middle East and Europe, including participation in the trilateral dialogue on energy, maritime security, cyber security and protection of critical infrastructure conducted among Israel, Greece, and Cyprus.
Sec. 5. Diplomacy in Eastern Mediterranean region
(a) Strategic dialogues
The Secretary of State may institutionalize multilateral strategic dialogues between the United States and IMEC countries, including dedicated formats with Eastern Mediterranean countries, with which the United States has a bilateral strategic dialogue.
(b) Prioritization of the Eastern Mediterranean
The Secretary of State shall prioritize the Eastern Mediterranean region in United States foreign policy, focusing on energy security and defense cooperation with countries in such region.
Sec. 6. Reports and studies
(a) Report on implementation
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing the implementation and effect of this Act, including an update on energy projects and defense cooperation that are being carried out pursuant to the authorities of this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
(b) Report on multilateral initiatives
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on each multilateral initiative between the United States and IMEC countries.
(c) Analysis of Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas, and Port Security
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall analyze insights gained from the operation of the Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas, and Port Security (in this section referred to as CYCLOPS
) as a potential model for broad-based multilateral cooperation.
(d) Study of program creation and expansion
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing the cost of, steps to, and feasibility of—
(1)
creating bilateral programs with Eastern Mediterranean countries modeled on bilateral programs between the United States and Israel, including—
(A)
the Binational Agriculture Research and Development Fund;
(B)
the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (including projects relating to homeland security and cyber security);
(C)
the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; and
(D)
the United States-Israel Science and Technology Foundation; and
(2)
expanding bilateral programs between the United States and Israel, including the programs listed in paragraph (1), to include other Eastern Mediterranean countries and IMEC countries.
Sec. 7. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(B)
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2) Eastern Mediterranean country
The term Eastern Mediterranean country
means the following:
(A)
The Arab Republic of Egypt.
(B)
The Hellenic Republic.
(C)
The Republic of Cyprus.
(D)
The State of Israel.
(3) IMEC country
The term IMEC country means the following:
(A)
The European Union.
(B)
The Federal Republic of Germany.
(C)
The French Republic.
(D)
The Italian Republic.
(E)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
(F)
The Republic of India.
(G)
The United Arab Emirates.
(H)
The United States.
(I)
Any other country that the Secretary of State designates as an IMEC country for purposes of this Act.