Offshore Safety in the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Sector

The Levant Basin, the Nile Delta Basin, and the Aegean Basin hold considerable reserves of oil and natural gas, that could transform the Eastern Mediterranean into an important energy producing region. Exploration and production of these resources will provide economic benefits to the companies and countries involved but also create new risks for the environment. In this paper, Miki Livnat argues that cooperation between countries in the Eastern Mediterranean is critical for the prevention of accidents and for rapid intervention if they occur. He examines and compares the different legislative frameworks relating to offshore safety that currently exist in the region, including the new EU Directive on Offshore Safety. The paper concludes with recommendations for regional cooperation on offshore safety that could reinforce conflict resolution efforts that are underway in the Eastern Mediterranean.