site.btaHigh Level Group on Central and South Eastern Europe Gas Connectivity Inaugurated in Sofia

High Level Group on Central
and South Eastern Europe Gas Connectivity
Inaugurated in Sofia


Sofia, February 9 (BTA) - A High Level Group on Central and
South Eastern Europe Gas Connectivity (CESEC) held its inaugural
meeting in Sofia on Monday, the Bulgarian Government
Information Service reported. The event was organized on the
initiative of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

The meeting was attended by European Commission Vice President
for the Energy Union Maros Sefcovic, European Climate Action and
Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete and delegates from
Central and Southeastern European countries. Besides Prime
Minister Borissov, other Bulgarian officials at the meeting
include Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Economic Policy
Tomislav Donchev, Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova and Deputy
Energy Minister Anton Pavlov.

CESEC will comprise two subgroups, a political and an expert
one. They will work on matters of natural gas connectivity in
Central and Southeastern Europe, the diversification of gas
sources over the long term and the security of gas supplies.

The CESEC members agreed that their main goal is to secure three
different sources of natural gas for Central Europe. Their
first task is to conduct a review of gas demand and supply in
the region. They will discuss all projects of common interest
and the possibility to obtain funding for them under the
"Juncker" plan.

Bulgaria, Greece and Romania agreed that CESEC will include a
subgroup in charge of the construction of a natural gas Vertical
Corridor connecting the three countries. Bulgarian Energy
Minister Temenouzhka Petkova invited representatives of Romania
and Greece, and also Hungary, to hold the first meeting on the
Vertical Corridor towards the end of March in Bulgaria. Hungary
is expected to announce its decision whether it will join the
subgroup.

European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said that EU
countries should show they can work together to improve their
connectivity. European Climate Action and Energy Commissioner
Miguel Arias Canete said that the key to the energy independence
of Central and Southeastern Europe is the development of the
Southern Gas Corridor and its connection to Europe, the
development of local energy reserves in the Black Sea and the
expansion of liquefied gas terminals.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said in an opening
address that Bulgaria has a particular interest in the security
and diversification of energy supplies in Europe. Therefore, the
Bulgarian government is working actively to implement key
projects which will give the country access to gas supplies that
are secure and come at competitive prices, Borissov said. He
added that Bulgaria's goals are in line with the objectives of
the European Energy Union.

"In the winter of 2008 Bulgaria was the country which suffered
most after Russia stopped supplying gas via Ukraine to Europe.
The Bulgarian government then made the resolution to avoid such
risks in the future," the Prime Minister said. He noted that his
government lays particular emphasis on building gas
interconnectors between Bulgaria and its neighbours Greece,
Romania, Turkey and Serbia and developing Bulgaria's own gas
reserves in the Black Sea shelf. Every project should be
implemented in accordance with EU laws, because it is these laws
that ensure market competition, low prices and secure supplies,
he said.

Owing to its geographical location, Bulgaria has the potential
to act as a gas distribution hub in Southeastern Europe and the
EU, Borissov said. "We have a well-designed national gas
distribution system and a gas storage facility, and we have our
own gas and oil reserves which are being developed. These are
just some of the opportunities and advantages offered by
Bulgaria," he said.

The Bulgarian government, working in partnership with
neighbouring countries and with the support of the European
Commission, is determined to contribute to the full integration
of the gas market of Central and Southeastern Europe, thus
helping to build the foundations of the Energy Union, Borissov
said. PK/VE


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