Balkan energy ministers meet in Belgrade to advance gas corridors

Vertical Gas Corridor energy security gas interconnection Balkan energy infrastructure regional energy cooperation

Energy ministers from Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and North Macedonia convened in Belgrade for the second quadrilateral summit to enhance regional energy security and market integration. The discussions focused on diversifying energy supply routes and strengthening infrastructure to reduce dependence on Russian gas through the expansion of the Vertical Gas Corridor.

Key infrastructure projects were highlighted, including the Greece-North Macedonia gas interconnection, which is expected to be operational by 2027. Additionally, the Serbia-North Macedonia gas interconnection is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2028, with pipe-laying operations scheduled to begin next week near Vranjska Banja.

The ministers also addressed the development of a potential oil-products route connecting Thessaloniki, Skopje, and Niš, and discussed cooperation on electricity market integration and battery storage systems. The next ministerial summit is scheduled to take place in Sofia.

Entities

DESFA · Dubravka Handanović · Dubravka Đedović Handanović · Energy Community · Iva Petrova · Sanja Božinovska · Southeast Europe · Stavros Papastavrou · Stavros Papastavru

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 12 SOURCES] Energy ministers from Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and North Macedonia are meeting in Belgrade for the second quadrilateral summit. burgasmedia.com · www.mononews.gr · kcnonline.rs · n1info.rs · opserver.mk · +7 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The meeting is a follow-up to the first summit held in Athens on May 15. www.mononews.gr · www.energygame.gr
[● 4 SOURCES] The Vertical Corridor aims to reduce dependence on Russian gas. www.thenewspaper.gr · www.capital.gr · www.energygame.gr · www.kykladiki.gr
[○ 1 SOURCE] Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia have established legislative frameworks and physical oil reserves. studiob.rs
[● 4 SOURCES] The summit focuses on energy security, infrastructure, and market integration. burgasmedia.com · www.mononews.gr
[○ 1 SOURCE] ExxonMobil, Energean, and HELLENiQ ENERGY are conducting an exploratory drilling project in Greece. www.thenewspaper.gr
[● 7 SOURCES] The Greece-North Macedonia gas interconnection is expected to be operational in 2027. n1info.rs · opserver.mk · tvzonaplus.rs · www.energygame.gr · kcnonline.rs · +2 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The Serbia-North Macedonia gas interconnection aims for completion in the first quarter of 2028. n1info.rs · tvzonaplus.rs
[○ 1 SOURCE] The next ministerial summit is scheduled to be held in Sofia. tvzonaplus.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] Pipe laying for the Serbia-North Macedonia gas interconnection will begin next week. n1info.rs · tvzonaplus.rs
[● 4 SOURCES] Serbia and North Macedonia are being included in the Vertical Gas Corridor. kcnonline.rs · opserver.mk · makpress.mk · greekcitytimes.com