The fifth Meeting of the High-Level Group on Central and South-Eastern Europe Connectivity (CESEC) took place on 29 June 2018, in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Forum was hosted by the Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova and was attended by Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete, Energy Ministers and representatives from 9 EU Member States and 8 Energy Community Contracting Parties. During the event were discussed the next steps of enhanced regional cooperation in all energy-related matters and was launched the investment and works for the Greece-Bulgaria Gas Interconnection.
Commissioner Arias Cañete declared: “The high level political commitment we have witnessed today, shows that the EU is serious about completing the energy infrastructure the region needs. Today’s meeting shows that we can cooperate very closely on issues of strategic importance and help the region seize the opportunities of the ongoing energy transition.”
The new Greece-Bulgaria Gas interconnection will be an important contribution to a well-functioning gas market and will enhance security of gas supply in the entire region. When completed in 2020, it will be bring additional sources of gas to the South-East European region, notably Caspian gas through the future Trans-Adriatic Pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas from Greece.
Cooperation under the Commission Initiative on Central and South-Eastern European Energy Connectivity (CESEC) was launched in 2015, aims to strengthen solidarity and enable a safer energy supply for citizens and businesses across the region (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) in the field of gas, electricity, renewables and energy efficiency.