EU to back gas interconnection Serbia-Bulgaria

BELGRADE - The EU is willing to earmark considerable funds so as to assist Serbia in establishing a gas interconnection with Bulgaria, Head of Economic Section of the EU Delegation to Serbia Freek Janmaat said on Thursday.

Serbia has at its disposal around EUR 200 million a year from the EU's funds for energy projects, Janmaat said at the forum on the region's energy perspectives held in Belgrade.

He said that the EU welcomes the plans for the restructuring of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia and Srbijagas, and underlined how important it is for Serbia and the region to join the Energy Community and harmonize their legislation with the Third Energy Package.

Regarding energy efficiency, Janmaat noted that Serbia uses 2.7 percent more energy per product unit than EU member states.

When it comes to investment in renewables, the EU welcomes new laws and is ready to back projects in this field, Janmaat said.

At a meeting that should take place in Berlin this summer, regional energy projects will be agreed and a fund set up for financing the projects, Janmaat said.

Photo screenshot Tanjug video