The European Commission (EC) is interested in funding major
infrastructure projects in Serbia, including a gas interconnection with
Bulgaria, the government in Belgrade said on Thursday, quoting EU commissioner
for European neighbourhood policy and enlargement negotiations Johannes
Hahn.
In April, Serbian energy minister Aleksandar Antic said he expects
financing for a gas interconnection with Bulgaria to be agreed with the European
Commission by the end of 2015.
The Commission is also interested in
supporting the project for the construction of the Nis-Brestovac railway, part
of railway Corridor X, and the construction of an intermodal terminal in
Belgrade, Hahn was quoted as saying in a government statement.
The
planned bidirectional gas interconnector with Bulgaria would diversify Serbia's
supply options. The Balkan state currently has just one gas supply route, coming
via Ukraine and Hungary.
In December, the Bulgarian economy ministry said
work on the gas interconnector with Serbia will be sped up after the announced
cancellation earlier that month of the South Stream gas pipeline
project.