Foreign affairs and energy ministries of Romania and Bulgaria signed a joint declaration on regional energy cooperation at the joint government meeting that took place in Craiova.
According to the joint declaration the two parties will continue their support for the strategic European objectives of increasing energy security through the diversification of both sources and supply routes.
Both parties indicated support for the Southern Corridor, including projects related to Trans Adriatic Pipeline and Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline. They agreed to continue to deploy all necessary efforts on the Romania – Bulgaria reverse gas interconnections and the development of related national gas transit systems, as well as to create further opportunities for connecting Romania, Bulgaria and Greece through the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative.
The Declaration includes the expectation that the European Commission will support energy projects that correspond to the development priorities of the Energy Union and are in full compliance with EU legislation.
Also the two countries vow to strive to develop domestic energy production and LNG supplies in a bid to increase their energy independence. The potential of the Black Sea as a reliable and important new energy was also mentioned.
The joint government meeting was preceded by a trilateral meeting of the prime ministries of Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia. „Energy is actually the most effective weapon and the most important means of growth and together, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania must accelerate energy infrastructure projects that allow us to be connected, to have access to the European market and worldwide and to provide to the economies of the three countries safe energy at competitive prices”, said Victor Ponta.
Laura Grigore
