Energy security

Energy Minister Yiannis Maniatis held a meeting yesterday with US Ambassador in Athens David D. Pearce to discuss possible natural gas supply problems that Europe may face this winter due to the crisis in Ukraine.

Bulgaria is the poorest EU member state and the one plagued by the lowest rate of energy security, according to a report of local NGO Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD).

The CSD used data of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy for the 75 largest energy-consuming countries.

Bulgaria's energy policy is infiltrated by local and foreign private interests, including state interests. 

This is the main conclusion of the Center for the Study of Democracy (CID)'s report on the governance of the energy sector, presented at a round table in Sofia on Friday. 

Romania will not suffer because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine gas row, as the country is one of the countries in Europe that are least dependent on imported Russian gas, officials say.

Russia on Monday cut the gas supplies to Ukraine after Kiev failed to meet a deadline to repay its debt of 4.5 billion dollars.

By Eleni Varvitsioti

After meeting with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger said on Wednesday that the two men had discussed the “important role that Greece will play in the European gas strategy,” as Brussels prepares its strategy for the European Union’s energy autonomy, which will include stress tests for member states.

Josipovic promoted Croatia’s energy independence policy among influential circles and think tanks during a week-long visit to Washington.

EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger has suggested he sees no risk of Russian gas supplies to Europe being affected by potential sanctions over the events in Ukraine.

EU to take measures against dependency on Russian gas

The European Commission will present an energy plan in June.

A construction worker stands in front of a section of Russia's South Stream pipeline near the village of Sajkas, 80 kilometres north of Serbian capital Belgrade on November 24th 2013. [AFP]

BELGRADE - The energy situation in Serbia is stable, and developments in Ukraine are not undermining the security of supply of energy sources, it was concluded at Tuesday's meeting of the working group tasked with monitoring the security of supply of energy and energy sources.