EU Interested in Funding Serbia-Bulgaria Gas Link

The European Commission (EC) is interested in funding major infrastructure projects in Serbia, including a gas interconnection with Bulgaria, the government in Belgrade said on Thursday, quoting EU commissioner for European neighbourhood policy and enlargement negotiations Johannes Hahn.

In April, Serbian energy minister Aleksandar Antic said he expects financing for a gas interconnection with Bulgaria to be agreed with the European Commission by the end of 2015.

The Commission is also interested in supporting the project for the construction of the Nis-Brestovac railway, part of railway Corridor X, and the construction of an intermodal terminal in Belgrade, Hahn was quoted as saying in a government statement.

The planned bidirectional gas interconnector with Bulgaria would diversify Serbia's supply options. The Balkan state currently has just one gas supply route, coming via Ukraine and Hungary.

In December, the Bulgarian economy ministry said work on the gas interconnector with Serbia will be sped up after the announced cancellation earlier that month of the South Stream gas pipeline project.

(SEENews)