European prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible criminal offences linked to the EU-financed Great Sea Interconnector, a planned subsea electricity link between Greece, Cyprus and, at a later stage, Israel.
The inquiry was confirmed after Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said he had been informed of action by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). The EPPO said it could not disclose further details so as not to compromise the case.
The project is promoted by Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO/ADMIE) and carries an estimated price tag of about €1.9 billion. It would connect the European and Cypriot transmission networks, with a subsequent extension envisaged to Israel. IPTO took over the scheme in 2023 from a Cyprus-based project vehicle.
Athens has reiterated support for the interconnector this year following reports of delay and uncertainty. In March, Greece said the project would proceed after discussions with Cypriot and Israeli counterparts. On Thursday, a Greek government spokesperson said Athens had not received any advisory from the EPPO concerning the probe.
Cyprus has pressed for clarifications in recent months on cost, viability and potential liabilities, even as Greece has restated backing. The Commission has recently warned against further slippage given the project’s strategic character for regional security of supply and market integration.
On completion, the cable is designed to be among the world’s longest and deepest high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnectors: approximately 1,240 km in length and reaching seabed depths of around 3,000 m. Project promoters say the link would end Cyprus’s electrical isolation and enable greater use of renewable generation in the region.
EU funding committed to the scheme includes a €657 million Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) grant and €100 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. These contributions were highlighted at the project’s launch events in 2022. Additional national financing and regulatory cost recovery mechanisms are expected to cover the remainder.
The EPPO is the EU’s independent prosecution office tasked with investigating and bringing to justice crimes affecting the Union’s financial interests, including fraud and corruption involving EU funds. Its confirmation of an active case indicates that EU monies connected to the interconnector are within scope, though the office has not named suspects or specified time periods under review.
The Great Sea Interconnector has experienced multiple timetable shifts. Work on related grid links proceeded domestically within Greece this spring, but decisions on the cross-border segments—particularly those involving Cyprus—have faced political, financial and technical hurdles. Meetings last year between Nicosia and Athens addressed Cyprus’s potential contributions and broader cost allocation.
Key outstanding issues now include: the scope and timeline of the EPPO probe; whether the inquiry will affect contracting or financing milestones; and the schedule for decisions in Nicosia concerning participation terms. The Commission’s position is that electricity interconnections in the eastern Mediterranean are a priority for supply security, market coupling and renewables integration; the extent to which this case affects the interconnector’s pathway remains to be seen.
Image source: ekathimerini.com
