In a resounding statement that probably puts an end to Italian support for the East Med pipeline, Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalci, went ahead.

Speaking to a parliamentary committee, the head of the Italian group stressed that the construction of the East Med submarine pipeline is impossible without Turkey’s consent

We cannot consider that Israel, Cyprus and Greece will agree without the participation of Turkey,” he added. “Italy, which will receive the gas through this pipeline, cannot participate.”

Speaking more generally about the Southern Mediterranean, Descalci said that “gas reserves are important and we need to understand how they will develop. The only region that is mature is Egypt, while Israel is maturing and Cyprus has plans. It is an area with dynamic, but not immediate”.

“There are differences between Turkey and Cyprus that are difficult to bridge and new friction will certainly arise because of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum. I agree that any agreement must be made with Turkey. We cannot think of an agreement with Israel, Cyprus and Greece for pipelines without the participation of Turkey”.

“As Italy, we cannot participate in a political agreement and as receivers of natural gas we cannot decide on behalf of the other countries,” he added.

“We hope that Israel will be able to continue the dialogue with Turkey,” said Paolo Formentini, Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, according to decode69. In that sense, he added, Mr. Descalzi’s words “did not surprise us. In fact, the basic idea that he announced is possible.”

The majority MPs called on the Italian government to continue the construction of the EastMed pipeline and to facilitate talks between the countries to this end.