Minister Stankov presented our country's green energy transmission projects to European Commissioner Jorgensen

Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov and EC Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen discussed the implementation of key infrastructure projects for the region. At the meeting held in Brussels, the two stressed the need to strengthen the electricity and gas interconnection. Therefore, the accelerated construction of the Vertical Gas Corridor was discussed.

The Green Energy Corridor initiative was also discussed, based on the established strategic partnership in the field of green energy between the governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary. Bulgaria has supported the project from its very beginning and has received a joint invitation to join the agreement between the four countries. The project is strategic for strengthening regional and national energy security and Bulgaria can play an important role in it. In parallel, the possibilities for strengthening regional energy cooperation between Bulgaria, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia are being discussed, with a focus on the transmission and trade of green electricity.

The meeting focused on the need to implement long-term solutions to ensure affordable energy prices at the national and regional levels. "If the EU increases its ambitions without giving the markets time to adapt, the burden will be paid by taxpayers," said Minister Stankov. He expressed disagreement with such an approach, which is also at odds with the objectives of the EU Compass for Renewing Competitiveness.

During the meeting, Minister Stankov presented the government’s top priorities in the energy sector, which will be included in the cabinet’s management program. “Bulgaria will work to diversify energy sources, develop nuclear energy and green technologies, as well as increase energy efficiency,” he said.

The challenges facing the implementation of the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan were also discussed. Minister Stankov identified a number of stalled reforms in the energy sector that put the second payment under the plan at risk. “The unlocking of the NRSP should be a joint effort between Bulgaria and the EC and would be a success for both sides,” said Minister Stankov. According to him, given the limited time, the government has taken steps to address the challenges in the most effective way possible for the country.

During his two-day working visit to Brussels, the Minister of Energy also held meetings with the Director-General of the European Commission's DG Energy, Dite Jorgensen, with the advisor on the European Green Deal to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Mr. Peter Van Kemseke, and with the Chief of Staff of Teresa Ribera, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition, Miguel Gilles Tertre.

By the end of the day, Minister Stankov will also talk with the Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, and with the EPP MEP Andrey Novakov. The meetings will discuss the current perspectives of the European Union's policy in the field of initiatives at the national level.