All sides share common objectives, including the need for further interconnection of infrastructure and enhancing supply security in a region that is a gateway to the European energy market.
In this context, the Thessaloniki meeting set the basic parameters of a plan to further develop the energy sector in the Balkans. It also outlined challenges in the short and longer term. The diversification of supply sources is expected to play a key role, given developments in international production.
As it was pointed out, he increasingly impressive finds of natural gas deposits in the Mediterranean Sea, reinforce the purpose of constructing pipelines in the Balkans and the wider European market, while LNG remains a secondary supply option and taking advantage of this option requires the development of appropriate infrastructures.
Finally, cooperation and developing interconnections between neighboring countries in the Balkans – where the energy market is already developing rapidly in view of the activation of the single European market – was extensively discussed.
“The whole region, from a geographic point of view, is the main energy gateway in Europe. A key prerequisite for a successful transition to the era of natural gas is that all countries in the region join their efforts and create synergies and networks, Greek Environment and Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis said./IBNA
https://www.balkaneu.com/quinquepartite-meeting-of-energy-ministers-the-balkans-are-the-next-energy-hub/
