The 2nd Quadrilateral Ministerial Meeting on Energy and Connectivity in Southeastern Europe concluded on October 6, in Belgrade, with the participation of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
The meeting was attended by Greece’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Handanović, North Macedonia’s Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, Sanja Božinovska, Bulgaria’s Minister of Energy, Iva Petrova, as well as the heads of the natural gas and electricity transmission system operators from the four countries.
The meeting followed the 1st Quadrilateral Ministerial Meeting, held in Athens last May at Greece’s initiative, reaffirming the four countries’ commitment to strengthening regional energy coordination. Discussions focused on enhancing energy security, diversifying energy sources and supply routes, developing energy interconnections, and further integrating electricity and natural gas markets.
Particular emphasis was placed on the development of the Vertical Gas Corridor. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening its role as a reliable energy gateway to Southeastern and Central Europe and the Western Balkans. They welcomed Serbia and North Macedonia’s participation in the Corridor, as well as the forthcoming start of construction of the natural gas interconnector between the two countries.
The Ministers also discussed strengthening electricity interconnections and transmission networks, developing renewable energy projects, energy storage and pumped-storage hydropower, and further integrating the electricity markets of Energy Community contracting parties with the European Union’s single market.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the four countries reiterated their commitment to continued regional cooperation and to jointly enhancing energy security, connectivity and resilience across Southeastern Europe. Greece continues to play a pivotal role as an energy gateway and transit corridor to Southeastern and Central Europe and the Western Balkans.
Following the meeting, Mr Papastavrou stated:
“Our countries face the same major challenge every day: ensuring affordable and reliable energy for our households and businesses. Regional energy interconnection and cooperation are an integral part of this effort. Since our last meeting in Athens in May, significant progress has been made. On September 4 in Thessaloniki, 11 transmission system operators from nine countries in Southern and Central Europe agreed to expand the Vertical Gas Corridor to include Serbia and North Macedonia. This development is particularly significant following the European Union’s decision to phase out Russian natural gas, as Central Europe is expected to face a need to replace approximately 20 billion cubic meters of gas.
“Today, all the Ministers reaffirmed our strong commitment to expanding the Vertical Gas Corridor to include Serbia and North Macedonia. Its expansion increases the capacity to transport natural gas from Greece to Central Europe, providing additional supply routes. It strengthens Greece’s strategic role and demonstrates what we can achieve together.
“Meanwhile, specific projects in the electricity and petroleum products sectors are underway. It is therefore useful for us to meet regularly, potentially every six months, to monitor their implementation. The next meeting will take place in Sofia, where we will have the opportunity to assess progress on all these issues.
“For Greece, the significance of this initiative extends beyond the energy sector itself. Energy serves as a connecting link that brings our four countries closer together and fosters a new culture of cooperation, enabling us to address challenges jointly and promote shared solutions. Greece supports Serbia’s integration into the European energy system. Together with my Bulgarian counterpart, we will strongly support this effort at meetings of the European Union’s Energy Ministers.”
The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continued regional cooperation and to jointly strengthening energy security, connectivity and resilience throughout Southeastern Europe.
