site.btaCaretaker Cabinet Approves Draft Joint Statement on Enhancing Security of Natural Gas Supplies to Central, Eastern Europe

The Council of Ministers approved a draft Joint Statement on enhancing the security of natural gas supplies to Central and Eastern Europe by the energy ministers and representatives of Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, Ukraine, Croatia, Lithuania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the U.S., the Government press service said on Monday.

One of Bulgaria’s main priorities in the energy sector is the diversification of energy resource sources and routes, which will guarantee security and competitive prices for Bulgarian consumers, the statement said. Bulgaria is pursuing a consistent policy of developing its gas infrastructure - modernizing and expanding the national gas transmission network and constructing reverse-flow gas interconnections with neighbouring countries - in the context of the European objectives of building an interconnected and single pan-European gas market and strengthening energy security.

In this connection, the Council of Ministers decided that the Minister of Energy should sign the Joint Statement on enhancing the security of natural gas supplies. The Joint Statement is expected to be signed within the framework of the Transatlantic Gas Security Forum, which will be held on February 24 in Washington.