Greece convenes regional gas operators to push vertical corridor amid EU Russian gas ban

Representatives of natural gas transmission system operators from nine countries—including Greece, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine—met in Athens to accelerate the development of the “Vertical Gas Corridor”. The technical forum focused on securing gas supplies ahead of the European Union’s ban on Russian natural gas, slated for October 2025, and on expanding interconnections through the western branch via North Macedonia and Serbia.

Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said, “We are building the Vertical Corridor as a dense and reliable regional energy network.” Participants agreed to draft a policy paper for the Energy Ministers’ Council and to fast‑track projects so that the Greece‑North Macedonia link becomes operational by 2027, followed by the Serbia connection. The plan aims to diversify the Balkans’ gas supply, reduce reliance on Russian fuel and enhance regional energy security.