Cyprus, Israel, Greece sign deal for EastMed gas pipeline

Nicosia, Israel and Greece on Tuesday signed an agreement to build a 1,900-km (1,180-mile) undersea gas pipeline that will carry gas from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe

The pipeline is expected to cost between €6 billion and €7.5 billion ($6.7 billion-$8.3 billion) and take five years to complete

The EastMed pipeline will be the longest and deepest gas pipeline in the world, traversing 1,900 kilometers (1,180 miles) of the Mediterranean Sea.

The pipeline will connect gas fields off the coasts of Israel and Cyprus to Greece and Italy, with the potential to extend it to other European countries in the future.

The project is expected to cost between €6 billion and €7.5 billion ($6.7 billion-$8.3 billion) and take five years to complete.

It is seen as a way to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas and diversify its energy supply.

However, the project has also been criticized by environmental groups, who say it will damage the marine environment and contribute to climate change.

The signing of the agreement marks a significant milestone in the development of the EastMed pipeline, but there are still a number of challenges that need to be overcome before the project can proceed.

These include securing the necessary financing, obtaining environmental permits, and resolving geopolitical issues related to the route of the pipeline.

If the EastMed pipeline is successfully built, it will be a major boost to the energy security of Europe.

It will also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing coal and oil with natural gas.