EU to strengthen energy connectivity in Central and South Eastern Europe

Ministers of the countries participating in the Central and South Eastern Europe energy connectivity (CESEC) initiative, in a meeting attended by Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson i, discussed the current situation and the future of the energy systems in the region. They concurred that energy connectivity is crucially important for a successful and cost-effective energy transition.

In the first part of the meeting, debates were held on priority electricity infrastructure projects, market coupling and the integration of renewable energy sources into the energy system, with a focus on offshore grids. As highlighted by the Slovenian Minister of Infrastructure, Jernej Vrtovec, the initiative creates an excellent opportunity to simplify energy cooperation in the region between the EU member states and third countries.

Energy cooperation will unquestionably lead us to the energy transition, which is not only important in combating climate change, but is also necessary to ensure that our economies remain competitive in the long term. Closely connected and smoothly operating energy markets are an important prerequisite for this transition. This is the greatest added value of cooperation within the CESEC initiative and the related work performed.

Jernej Vrtovec, Minister of Infrastructure

Ministers agreed that energy connectivity is critically important for a successful and cost-effective energy transition. In this part of the meeting, a smart grids project between the electricity grids of Slovenia and Croatia, possibilities for building offshore wind farms in South Eastern Europe and possibilities for setting up an offshore network in the Mediterranean were also presented.

The second part of the meeting was devoted to debates on priority cross-border gas projects and related legislative activities, as well as on the infrastructure for renewable and other low-carbon gases. Ministers agreed that the promotion of environmentally friendly gases is extremely important in the context of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in industries that do not allow for electrification.

Minister Vrtovec said: "Because electrification also has its limits, it is important to direct the same level of attention to the decarbonisation of the gas network. In previous years, the participation of the gas sector in the CESEC initiative has proven very beneficial. As low-carbon gases break through and face new challenges in the future, I am convinced that cooperation between EU member states and non-member states will be even more important. Because the energy from renewable sources is expected to become increasingly dispersed and will be produced at irregular time intervals, technologies enabling the conversion of excess electric energy will have a vitally important role in the energy transition. Hydrogen seems most promising."

At the end of the meeting, ministers adopted conclusions supporting the revised action plans for electrical energy and gas and welcomed progress in prioritised electrical energy and gas projects, both in terms of infrastructure and market coupling. The conclusions specifically underline the promotion of renewable energy sources and renewable and low-carbon gases.