Memorandums of cooperation were signed in Athens between Bulgaria and Greece to look into the possibility of building an oil pipeline from Alexandroupolis to Burgas, and to guarantee gas supplies and storage of natural gas
The construction of an oil pipeline between Alexandroupolis and Burgas will provide real diversification and alternative oil supplies for the largest refinery in the Balkans as well as for the Black Sea region, President Rumen Radev said today in Athens. The Bulgarian head of State and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a meeting, after which they took part in a ceremony of signing bilateral memoranda for cooperation in exploring the possibility of building an oil pipeline from Alexandroupolis to Burgas, as well as for cooperation on guaranteeing gas supplies and storing natural gas. The Bulgarian delegation, led by the President, includes Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policies and Minister of Transport and Communications, Hristo Alexiev and Energy Minister Rosen Hristov.
The energy agreements are another step in deepening the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and Greece, based on common interests, mutual trust and shared European values, the head of State said. The sides concurred that the top-level political will in Bulgaria and Greece is a factor for seeking joint practical solutions in the spirit of solidarity to the problems of energy supply security, seriously disrupted by Russia's war against Ukraine.
Similarly, securing access to the Greek liquefied natural gas terminals and to the storage of natural gas in the Chiren gas storage facility, which is indispensable for the development of the economies of Bulgaria and Greece, is also a matter of concern.
The documents signed today are crucial for the whole of Europe and show what two EU member states, united by the principles of good neighbourliness and European values, can achieve together, Radev and Mitsotakis further underlined. The two also noted the importance of ensuring reliable economic, transport and energy connectivity between Bulgaria and Greece for building steady supply chains along the North-South axis in the context of a deepening nextdoor military conflict.
Radev expressed his gratitude for Mitsotakis's vision in the development of bilateral relations in recent years, as well as for the solidarity and the support shown by Greece after the suspension of Russian natural gas supplies in April 2022.
The sides also expressed a shared view that Bulgaria and Greece set an example and have a key role to play in promoting security, stability and good neighbourliness in the whole region of Southeast Europe and the agreements signed today change the regional energy map.