The inception of Bulgaria’s plan to hold a summit on NATURAL GAS FOR EUROPE SECURITY AND PARTNERSHIP can be attributed to the sustained dialogue between Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and heads of state from the Caspian region and Central Asia over the course of the last two years. The discussions showed the need to promote collaboration between prominent producers, transit nations, and consumers through a significant dialogue at the highest echelons, involving all relevant stakeholders.
The Sofia Summit reached out to a total of 28 countries, encompassing those from South-East Europe, the Black Sea region, the Caspian region, Central Asia, European Union Member States actively participating in the Southern Gas Corridor’s development, the United States, Russia, the EU Presidency, and the European Commission.
The aim of the Sofia Summit is to foster the continuation of dialogue started by the Second Strategic Energy Review by effectively involving prominent energy suppliers both in the present and in the foreseeable future.
The aim of this Summit is to engage in a dialogue with the EU’s primary energy partners, focusing on the EU’s approach to energy security. The EU Member States will recognise the commitment of producers and transit countries to prioritise their interests, aligning with the proposed EU Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan.
Bulgaria intends to raise the topic of the EU’s expanding natural gas needs, prompting a conversation on its economic and political ramifications. A task of great relevance in this context is the development of energy interdependence provisions, as outlined by the EC, with the partners of the European Union.
France’s position at the summit drew specific attention - further elaboration below:
The primary focus of the Summit’s business section is to examine and promote measures, including trends, principles, and policies, that will strengthen Europe’s energy security. Attention will be given to significant natural gas projects in the South European area.
Energysummit2009.bg is the sole permitted official channel for accessing information pertaining to this globally significant assembly.
In the weekly newsletter number 16, published on April 27, 2009, the Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria covered this important topic.
