site.btaClimate Action, Energy Commissioner Canete: EC Supports Gas Hub Construction in Bulgaria

Climate Action, Energy Commissioner Canete: EC Supports Gas Hub Construction in Bulgaria

Sofia, May 26 (BTA) - The European Commission (EC) supports the development of a gas hub in Bulgaria, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Canete told journalists at the Council of Ministers Thursday. Commissioner Canete is paying a visit to Bulgaria.

The country has potential to become a leader in the development of the European and Balkan gas hub. Bulgaria has the historical capacity and an exceedingly well-developed gas transmission network, he added.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov conferred with Commissioner Canete. The development of the European Energy Union and Bulgaria's capacity to guarantee sustainable energy supplies were discussed at the meeting in which Deputy PM Tomislav Donchev also participated.

The main objective of developing this gas hub is diversification of the sources and the routes, Canete pointed out. The EC supports and is working in conjunction for the development of a natural gas interconnector in Greece, and similar projects with Serbia and Romania are under way. The Commission will support any other infrastructure in compliance with EU legislation, Canete said. Bulgaria can be a key player in natural gas supplies in the region. It values the good work of the Bulgarian team headed by ministers Donchev and Temenuzhka Petkova. "This is a difficult job, we have launched and are completing 14 sites of all-European interest, but things in Bulgaria are progressing best of all," the European Commissioner said.

Canete said he is proud that Bulgaria is a reliable EU member. It has achieved reduction of harmful green gas emissions, as well as high energy efficiency and security. The Commissioner congratulated the country on its work on complete liberalization of the energy market, as well as for considering the need of vulnerable social groups. It began just with an idea which is now being materialised, Canete said, speaking of the Balkan gas hub project. EU legislation in the field of energy is abided by in Bulgaria, he pointed out. In 2005 and 2009 the trade with gas was used not as a commodity but as a political instrument and we do not want that to be repeated, Canete said and again repeated that the EC supports the development of a gas hub and gas infrastructure in this country.

"The key word in Commissioner Canete's statement is trust. A year and a half ago there was no trust, then they tried to fool the European Commission, to seek commercial results and that was why there was no trust," Borissov said, speaking of the previous cabinet. "There was only talk about gas interconnector links in the past 25 years, but nothing was done. In addition, the largest companies in the branch are surveying the Black Sea for oil and natural gas. We achieved in making the gas hub a European project. It is not aimed against Russia. What is wanted is just abidance by European rules," Borissov pointed out. "When a commodity travels only in one direction this is not a market. Bulgaria's pipes and the natural gas passing through them should also be accessible for trade and for this country's neighbours," the Bulgarian PM said.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will pay a visit to Bulgaria on June 1 to discuss, among other things, the energy links between the two countries, Borissov added.