28 November 2025 | 15:03
In his speech, the president pointed out that Bulgaria highly values its relations with Iraq, which is an important partner in the Middle East region
NEWS
Rosen Plevneliev: Liberalization and Connectivity in the Energy Sector Will Make Bulgaria a Regional Leader in the Balkans
2016-05-26 16:25:00Bulgaria is a leading regional player in the Balkans and does its best to help its neighbors on their way to EU integration. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said at a working meeting with Miguel Arias Canete, EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action, who is visiting Bulgaria.
At the meeting the President emphasized that Bulgaria will continue working to ensure energy diversification, liberalization and also the connectivity of the energy markets of the countries in the region.
“Although we are located in an extremely important region, we lack a sufficiently good and connected energy market. We must undertake decisive steps to create an energy network with normal market conditions and overcome the fragmentation in the sector in the EU,” the President said.
The liberalization in the energy sector has become a priority for Bulgaria and we have achieved progress in this process, Rosen Plevneliev was adamant.
“Bulgaria is the European Commission’s reliable partner in the energy sector, has a key geographical location and will play a decisive role in ensuring the connectivity of the energy networks,” EU Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said and added that the European Commission is ready to assist the modernization, transformation and transparency of the energy sector in Bulgaria and in the region.
“The European countries are willing to cooperate, and the European citizens would like to have security of the supplies and fair prices of energy ensured,” President Rosen Plevneliev further said. The Head of State was adamant that the lack of competitive prices in the energy sector is the major hindrance to overcoming the inequalities in the EU and to raising the standard of living of the countries in the region.
President Plevneliev and Commissioner Canete also exchanged opinions on issues on the international agenda. The Head of State said that Bulgaria is a responsible and predictable partner, which defends the European values and contributes to sthe establishment of the European agenda.
“Bulgaria firmly supports the European idea. We will not succumb to populism and nationalism and we will not be misled by short-term interests,” Rosen Plevneliev was adamant and highlighted our country’s contribution to the common efforts to cope with the refugee crisis and to the protection of the external EU border.
MORE FROM NEWS
24 November 2025 | 19:07
Taking advantage of their geostrategic position, Bulgaria and Georgia have the potential to deepen their connectivity in various areas such as transport, energy, and the digital sector, which will contribute to promoting the economy, investment, and prosperity in the Black Sea region. This was stated by President Rumen Radev, who held a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili.
13 November 2025 | 14:02
The two were unanimous that restoring peace in Europe through diplomacy is a priority for the EU and the only way to ensure the long-term security and stability of the Old Continent.
12 November 2025 | 14:02
The President recalls that the institution of the Special Commercial Administrator (SCA) was introduced by an Act adopted in 2023, which also established a number of safeguards against potential abuse and arbitrariness — safeguards of the kind already adopted in other European states faced with similar circumstances, with the objective of minimising the risk of subsequent financial claims against the State