Meeting on Central and Southeastern Europe
Gas Connectivity
Opens in Sofia


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

The meeting is 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.

Prime Minister 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


/СН/