“Today a new era is dawning for Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe.” With these words, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen opened a new gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Greece on Saturday. The project means “liberation from dependence on Russian gas” because the entire gas consumption of the Balkan state can be covered thanks to the new connection, the Commission president emphasized.
According to von der Leyens, the 182 kilometer long gas pipeline between the northern Greek city of Komotini and the central Bulgarian Stara Zagora has received 250 million euros in support from the European Union from the start of the project in 2009. The pipeline has a capacity of three to five billion cubic meters of gas per year. It connects Bulgaria to the Trans Adria Pipeline (Tap). This routes natural gas from Azerbaijan via Turkey to Greece and on to Italy.
Bulgarian president: “Stability in the region”
“Through strategic cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece, we can achieve stability in the region,” said Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. The inauguration in Sofia was also attended by the presidents of Azerbaijan, North Macedonia and Serbia – Ilham Aliyev, Stevo Pendarovski and Aleksandar Vucic – as well as the heads of government of Greece and Romania, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Nicolae Ciuca.
Azerbaijan promises energy aid
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis praised the “wider geopolitical significance” of the inauguration. The Azerbaijani president reiterated that his country will cooperate with the European Union in the long term. This does not only concern deliveries of natural gas, but in the future also electricity from renewable sources. Azerbaijan’s gas supplies to the EU should double by 2027.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
