Turning the country into a gas distribution centre for EU
member states in the region continues to be a priority for Bulgaria, the
European Commission (EC) said on Monday, quoting prime minister Boyko
Borisov.
Last month, Bulgaria sent a letter to the European Commission
proposing to build an EU-funded regional gas hub near the Black Sea port of
Varna to dispatch Russian gas deliveries to the rest of Europe.
Such a
gas hub could supply Central and Western Europe, as well as countries from the
European energy community, the Commission quoted the Bulgarian prime minister as
saying during a meeting with EC vice president Maros Sefcovic.
Sefcovic,
on his side, said that such a gas hub can play an important role in developing
regional gas markets.
“Pre-conditions for functioning gas hubs are proper
infrastructure, transparency, and liquidity and non-discriminatory access to
suppliers and customers,” the statement read.
Borisov and Sefcovic agreed
on holding the first meeting of the high Level Group in Sofia to analyse the
energy situation in the region and, among others, whether and how these
conditions can be met by the creation of a gas hub in Bulgaria.