site.btaEC Vice President Maros Sefcovic Visits Bulgaria

Sofia, March 15 (BTA) - European Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic is visiting Bulgaria on Thursday.

Meeting with Sefcovic, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov discussed the progress of the initiatives for increasing energy connectivity in the region in the context of the EU perspective of the Western Balkans, which is a key priority of Bulgaria's EU Presidency.

The sides concurred that boosting regional cooperation and energy integration are important for establishing a reliable, functioning and accessible energy system in the region.

Borissov stressed that the construction of the Balkan gas hub is an important part of the policy of integration and development of a free, competitive gas market in South Eastern Europe. The Prime Minister said this project in the Balkans would guarantee the liberalization of energy markets and would ensure affordable energy to customers.

Borissov also said that during its stint at the EU Council Presidency, Bulgaria would continue its efforts aimed at achieving a stable Energy Union and positive results on the energy priorities.

Sefcovic participated in a conference on the role of NGOs for improving the energy policy and the legal basis in the field of energy with a focus on the challenges facing South East Europe.

He stressed that the European Commission supports the construction of a gas distribution hub in Bulgaria because the Central and South Eastern Europe Gas Connectivity High-Level Working Group decided at its very first meeting that diversification requires each country of the region to have at least three sources of natural gas supplies. Geographically, Bulgaria is best suited as the hub's location, the Commission Vice President said. In addition, this country has very well developed interconnectors - both completed or under construction.

Sefcovic added that the aim is to see Bulgaria turn from a gas transit country into a gas-trading country.