Presided over by Bulgartransgaz EAD, representatives of nine gas transmission operators in Central and Eastern Europe met in Sofia - Bulgartransgaz EAD, Transgaz (Romania), Gas Connect (Austria); GazSystem (Poland); Eustream (Slovakia); DESFA (Greece); FGSZ (Hungary); Net4gas (Czech Republic); Plinacro (Croatia) and Plinovodi (Slovenia). The meeting was attended by Mr. Kiril Temelkov, Executive Director of Bulgartransgaz EAD, the Vice-President of the company Management Board Mrs. Antonia Uzunova and Mrs. Denitza Beyazova, Member of the Supervisory Board of Bulgartransgaz EAD and member of the Executive Committee of GTE and the Board of Directors of GIE, nominated by Bulgartransgaz EAD.
The opportunities for strengthening the cooperation between the gas transmission operators in Central and Eastern Europe have been discussed during the meeting.
"The joint efforts of the gas transmission operators in Central and Eastern Europe, in the context of integration of the European gas market, will ensure achievement of the common objectives for our companies", said the Executive Director of Bulgartransgaz EAD Mr. Kiril Temelkov at opening the meeting, held at the initiative of the Bulgarian gas transmission operator. According to Mr. Temelkov, by defining more precisely the specificities of the markets where the respective gas operators perform activities and the related common objectives, the operators will be able to cooperate and contribute to protecting the interests of CEE within the common European policy. "Today's meeting marks the beginning of enhanced cooperation between the gas operators in Central and Eastern Europe", emphasized the Executive Director Mr. Kiril Temelkov.
The participants at the meeting discussed Bulgartransgaz EAD proposal the cooperation between the gas transmission operators in CEE to develop into a platform for exchange of ideas, establishment of common policies, discussion of specific problems and finding common solutions. This will contribute to the future sustainable development of the gas transmission operators in the region and the more successful cooperation between them in the future. The pointed out general objectives are diversification of sources and routes of natural gas supply, enhancing security of supply, promoting market integration, as well as strengthening of liberalization and competition.