site.btaBulgaria Accepts 30% Energy Savings Target for EU by 2030

Bulgaria Accepts 30% Energy Savings Target for EU by 2030

Luxembourg/Sofia, June 27 (BTA) - Bulgaria has accepted the 30 per cent energy savings target for the EU by 2030. The goal was agreed upon by EU energy ministers during a meeting in Luxembourg which ended late on Monday evening after hours of debate. Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova represented Bulgaria at the meeting.

The questions of what the energy savings target should be and whether it should be binding for the member states were discussed most heatedly during the meeting. Bulgaria's position was that a target of 27 per cent by 2030 would be acceptable, but the country was also inclined to accept the more ambitious goal of 30 per cent on condition that the requirement takes account of the national idiosyncrasies of each country.

The 30 per cent level was eventually approved by the EU ministers, but it remains to be decided whether it will be binding or not. The common position of the member states can serve as a basis for negotiations with the European Parliament.

According to the current rules, the EU should achieve energy savings of 20 per cent by 2020.

The Luxembourg meeting also discussed electricity interconnection between the EU member states and how the matter is addressed in a proposed package of measures called "Clean Energy for All Europeans." Bulgaria is working towards the 10 per cent electricity interconnection target for the EU by 2020 and is making efforts to increase its electricity transmission capacity by building additional transmission lines to neighbouring countries.

A project of shared interest is being implemented to build a 400 kV electricity transmission line between the Maritsa East substation in Bulgaria and the Nea Santa substation in Greece as part of the North-South electricity corridor which is of priority importance. The project will have a substantial impact on the security of electricity supplies in the region, the flexibility of the electricity system and the increase of its transmission capacity. Sofia proposes that the third list of projects of shared interest should also include a 400 kV electricity link between Bulgaria and Serbia. It will help increase the cross-border electricity transmission capacity, facilitate the sharing of electricity in the Western Balkans, and improve the functioning of the electricity markets in Bulgaria and Serbia.

The European Commission Vice President for the Energy Union, Maros Sefcovic, was also at the meeting.