DEAR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
DEAR GUESTS,

It is an honor and great pleasure for me, as Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy to welcome the participants in the already traditional Fifth Annual Energy Conference for Central and South East Europe, organized by East EuroLink.

The focus of this forum is pressing and particularly important for the stability of the region. The development of the regional power and gas markets is crucial for the sustainable and efficient power supply as well as for the common economic development of our countries. Achieving the balance of the interests of producers, suppliers and consumers, following the principles of the market economy, is the cardinal point of this process.

I do believe that all issues, to be discussed during the conference, such as energy regulation, implementation of EU energy requirements, pace of liberalization, nuclear renaissance, energy projects financing etc. will vastly contribute to reach the best solutions to such important issues as guarantee for equal access to the power grid, transparency of the process, full liberalization of the market.

I would like to take the opportunity and to thank the organizers for their professional and successive approach in organizing these energy conferences  hosted by Bulgaria, recognizing the role of our country as guarantee for the energy security and as an important player on the energy markets in Southeast Europe.

I wish all participants in the conference beneficial work and success!

Petar Dimitrov
Minister of Economy and Energy

Republic of Bulgaria