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Head of State: IGB launch into operation is a symbol of the growing potential of Southeast Europe

The key for success lies in the joint projects, connectivity and integration – in all their dimensions, is what Radev said at the ceremony

The IGB is far more than an infrastructure project. It is a symbol of the growing potential of our region, of successful cooperation and connectivity, contributing to the sustainable economic development by implementing the joint EU strategy for more affordable, secure energy. This is what President Radev said at the IGB official launch into operation ceremony.

Radev hosted the event, which brought together European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the Prime Minister of Romania, Nicolae Ciuca. The ceremony was attended by Bulgarian Prime Minister Galab Donev and the CEOs of ICGB AD Teodora Georgieva and Georgios Satlas.

In Hall 3 of the National Palace of Culture, the participants and guests were played video footage from the IGB dispatch centre, where at 7 o'clock today the new gas year and the first day of commercial operation of the interconnector were started.

In his address, Radev pointed out that the long-awaited interconnector is not just an evidence of the increased technological capacity of Bulgaria and Greece, but the project is changing decisively the European energy map. The interconnection gives a real flow of gas through the Southern Gas Corridor. It provides new opportunities not only for Bulgaria, but also for Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia and other CEE countries, the President said, adding that with the expected launch of the LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis, the region will get long-awaited opportunities for real diversification.

The President also recalled the proposal of the gas transmission operators of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia to transmit the gas from Azerbaijan to Central, Western and Southern Europe, using the existing and integrated infrastructure of our countries. It will be an alternative to the costly and time-consuming upgrade of TAP, the President said.

The success of IGB gives us hope to look far beyond gas pipes and electrical grids – they are highly needed, but not sufficient, the President said, stressing that the key for success lies in the joint projects, connectivity and integration – in all their dimensions. The President called for a joint vision and strategy for our common future: To supply energy resources together, to develop new technologies and to build new energy facilities together, to integrate our energy storage capacities to better balance our systems, to produce together green hydrogen. As a positive example of a joint regional approach, Rumen Radev pointed to the terminal near Alexandroupolis and the new gas plant there.

Rumen Radev pointed out that Russia's war in Ukraine has changed our thinking, our perception of what does solidarity mean. The geopolitical environment has been changing with a rapid pace and we need to look at our region from much broader perspective, Rumen Radev said. He stressed that Russia's war in Ukraine is already changing the global chains of supply. The only reliable land route from Asia and Africa to Europe is from Turkiye through Bulgaria and Greece, up to Serbia and Romania, which requires to develop regional connectivity, to build new oil and fuel pipelines, to develop digital infrastructure. The President highlighted the importance of the implementation of Corridor 8, the Sea2sea multimodal corridor, and the need to build new bridges over the Danube.

In Rumen Radev's words, the lack of sufficient connectivity is limiting development and undermining the European security and stability, especially in times of crises.

The President also said that keeping Bulgaria and Romania outside of Schengen does not contribute to the stability and prosperity of Europe. Eleven years after covering all the technical criteria, we deserve a membership as soon as possible, Radev concluded.