Interconnection Between Serbia, Bulgaria Main Priority, Says EU Commissioner Hahn

European institutions launched a new file on energy connectivity in Western Balkans to increase physical interconnection and react to the cancellation of the South Stream project. 

“Today we are opening a new file on energy connectivity. This not only covers the physical connectivity between energy systems, but also the connectivity between energy markets” Johannnes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, said on Thursday. 

According to Hahn, Brussels can be of great help for “particular sections” of the gas network, supporting the development of cross-border links. 

“The most immediate priority is the interconnection between Serbia and Bulgaria.

Other projects (to bringing gas from Croatia into the region) are being discussed in the Central and South-Eastern Europe Gas Connectivity (CESEC) context. Many of you will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding on this in Dubrovnik next week” he said during the Western Balkans 6 Ministerial meeting. 

The focus here is on energy and politics. According to Hahn, investments in gas interconnections and renewables can mitigate political and economic risks. He also stressed the need of cooperation and the importance of third party access.

“In the energy sector, this means operating under EU-compatible rules with independent and strong regulatory authorities. For example, the EU could not support a gas pipeline if you do not allow third party access.” 

He also gave some timeframes, saying that European institutions will present a list of investment priorities on energy in August. 

Since January, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov asked Commissioner for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič to pay more attention to energy security issues in the Balkan country, underlining that Sofia wants to build its gas networks on the basis of European legislation despite some tangible discontent for previous developments.