An international conference on “Uniting Central and Eastern Europe for a Competitive and Secure Energy Future” was held in Sofia on Thursday. The conference brought together representatives from governments, energy organizations, the business sector and academia to discuss security of supply, the future of the fuel sector, gas infrastructure and the impact of EU regulations on competitiveness and energy prices.
The event was organized by the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association (BPGA) under the auspices of the Energy Ministry.
At the start of the conference, representatives of six energy industry associations from Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Czechia signed a Sofia Declaration on Energy Security and Competitiveness in Central and Eastern Europe. The declaration marked the launch of the CEE Energy Alliance Initiative, an informal regional alliance for dialogue with national and European institutions.
Signatories included representatives of the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association, the Polish Organization of Oil Industry and Trade, the Slovak Association of Fuel Industry and Trade, the Czech Association of Petroleum Industry and Trade, the Greek Association of Petroleum Product Marketing Companies and the Romanian Federation of Energy Employers.
The declaration calls for socially balanced and economically realistic implementation of the EU’s second Emissions Trading System (ETS2), which covers emissions from road transport and buildings. The signatories also call for a reassessment of the feasibility of transport targets under the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), taking into account structural limitations on the electrification of transport by 2030. They further advocate full recognition of biofuels and recycled carbon fuels as important means of reducing emissions from the existing vehicle fleet. The declaration also calls for a review of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation to align mandatory targets with realistic fuel availability and production capacity. In addition, the signatories urge a realistic, proportionate and security-oriented implementation of the EU Methane Regulation.
The forum was unveiled by Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry Alexander Poulev, Minister of Energy Iva Petrova, BPGA Chair Svetoslav Benchev, and Bulgarian Industrial Association President Dobri Mitrev.
In his speech, Economy Minister Poulev said that Bulgaria should not be on the periphery of the European Union but at its heart, strongly integrated into all European projects, particularly those involving energy connectivity. According to Poulev, this can be achieved through better connectivity, increased investment, including public-private partnerships in cross-border infrastructure, and greater diversification of supplies. “We support the green transition and all green policies, but they must be implemented in a way that does not further undermine Europe’s competitiveness. They must not lead to additional price pressures and must take into account the needs of individual countries,” the Deputy Prime Minister argued. “We know that every bomb and every missile that falls in Ukraine and Iran is felt by every household, every family and every business and industry, in the form of disrupted supplies, price shocks, inflation and loss of competitiveness,” he said. He noted that the government faced the difficult task of seeking local solutions to global problems and that this was being done in a spirit of partnership and dialogue with the sector and leading experts.
Energy Minister Petrova said that energy security is more important than ever, but energy security also means economic security, resilience and overall regional security. In her words, the two key factors for ensuring energy security are infrastructure and strong regional cooperation, and she cited the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative as an example. Central and Eastern Europe has its own specific characteristics, Petrova said, adding that the countries in the region have different resources and investment capacities. “We have common European goals that are our collective commitment, but on the way towards them, we must take these realities into account. Only in this way can we build a fair and practically applicable framework that creates conditions for modernization while also promoting socioeconomic cohesion,” the Minister argued.
BPGA Chairman Benchev said that overregulation, particularly in these difficult times, is a recipe for disaster. “We are getting increasingly close to setting targets that are impossible to achieve. We are concerned that this policy will continue in the future. In most cases, these decisions have been made without the active involvement of industry,” he said. In his words, the region cannot afford to be merely a place where decisions made elsewhere are implemented. “That is why we want to talk about the energy transition with an understanding of the effects of every decision,” he added.
BIA head Mitrev said Central and Eastern European countries should not remain merely consumers but have the capacity to become a driving force behind the “smart transformation” and “smart transition”, which can ensure sustainable growth for businesses and prosperity for citizens. Mitrev called for unity among national and European institutions, partner countries and businesses, stressing the need for common sense and a clear distinction between climate ambitions and economic realities. He questioned whether the European economy and industry can meet environmental targets within the envisaged deadlines with current mechanisms and support, and called for a more pragmatic approach to helping businesses through the transition. Mitrev also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, saying a competitive economy requires competitive energy prices, while energy connectivity depends on modern infrastructure. Neither can be achieved without close cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe, he said.
International Conference on Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe Held in Sofia THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-08 14:54:51
Trump’s Approval Rating Reaches New Depths in Dismal Pew Poll 2026
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Economic news Bulgaria, Bulgarian economy news, Bulgaria economic news, latest economic news, breaking economic news, Bulgarian business news, Bulgaria business news. Bulgarian financial news, Bulgaria finance news, Bulgarian markets, Bulgaria stock market, Bulgarian banking sector, Bulgarian investments, foreign investment Bulgaria. Bulgaria inflation, Bulgaria GDP, Bulgarian exports, Bulgarian imports, Bulgaria trade, Bulgarian industry, Bulgarian companies, Bulgarian entrepreneurs. Bulgarian business economy, economic growth Bulgaria, Bulgaria economic policy, Bulgarian fiscal policy, Bulgarian monetary policy, Bulgaria budget, Bulgarian public finances. Bulgaria wages, Bulgarian employment, Bulgaria unemployment, Bulgarian labor market, Bulgaria salaries, Bulgarian taxes, Bulgaria taxation, Bulgaria energy market. Bulgaria real estate market, Bulgarian property market, Bulgaria construction sector, Bulgarian tourism economy, Bulgaria agriculture economy, Bulgarian manufacturing, Bulgaria technology sector. Bulgarian startups, Bulgaria investment news, Bulgaria corporate news, Bulgarian financial markets, Bulgaria interest rates, Bulgarian banks, Bulgaria euro adoption, Bulgaria economic reforms.
BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-08 14:54:51
Steve Bannon Demands JD Vance Take ‘Definitive Action’ Against His Big Tech ‘Oligarch Sponsors’ 2026
