: Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia Energy Ministers Discuss Gas Supply Projects

Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia will deepen their cooperation on projects ensuring the security of gas supplies to Southeast Europe. This was agreed by the energy ministers of three Balkan countries: Temenouzhka Petkova of Bulgaria, Giorgos Stathakis of Greece, and Alexander Antic of Serbia. The sides agreed that the diversification of gas supplies will make it possible to have competitive prices and meet the challenges in the region. Petkova underscored the strategic importance of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector for ensuring natural gas supplies from various sources. “The Bulgarian government firmly supports the project and is negotiating extra funding with the European Commission”, she said. She expressed confidence that Greece and Serbia will play an important role in the development of Europe’s Balkan Gas Hub. First and foremost, if the concept of the Bulgarian government is to be implemented, the infrastructure should be built with Bulgaria’s neighbours and gas supplies from at least three different sources should be available. The creation of a single regional energy market will meet the three countries’ priorities for security of deliveries and affordable prices for consumers, Petkova said.