Bulgarian President Calls for Starting EU's Energy Union From Balkans

At a meeting with European Commission Vice-President in charge of Energy Union Maros Sefcovic in Munich on Saturday, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev called for the creation of the European Energy Union to begin from the Balkans.

Plevneliev is on a visit to Germany for participation at the 52ndMunich Security Conference which is taking place from Friday to Sunday.

Plevneliev and Sefcovic noted that the creation of the European Energy Union is of exceptional importance for deepening the process of European integration and increasing the energy security of all EU member states.

Sefcovic assessed positively the launching of the independent energy exchange and the measures Bulgaria has taken for full liberalisation of its electricity market in the past year.

Plevneliev identified the diversification of sources and supply routes of energy resources as key priority for the countries of southeast Europe.

In his opinion, the energy dependence of the region is its greatest vulnerability.

The Bulgarian president insisted on the European Commission providing logistical and financial support for the development and modernisation of the energy infrastructure in the region.

According to him, the launching of a regional energy exchange will lead to the establishment of a common energy market with competitive prices for all countries from southeast Europe.

In his view, the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor, part of which is the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, will provide real diversification and increase the security of natural gas supplies for the countries of the region.

The Bulgarian head of state said that granting of access to the liquefied natural gas terminals in the Mediterranean Sea and constructing...