BULGARIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU

PRIORITIES IN THE FIELD OF ENERGY

During the first Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Ministry of Energy will be guided by the desire to reach compromise and consensus solutions in the best interests of all European citizens.

The Ministry of Energy team will actively work to achieve:

• Progress on the files of the ambitious package "Clean Energy for all Europeans";

• Sustainable, affordable and low-carbon energy in the interest of European citizens;

• Maximum progress and successful completion of the negotiations on the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union, the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive;

• Consolidation of the positions of the Member States to the greatest possible extent with a view to reaching a   common position of the Council regarding the Gas Directive;

• Diversification of sources and routes of natural gas supply. This is a constant priority and will be maintained after the end of the Bulgarian Presidency;

• Development of regional electricity market design;

• Development of the potential for regional cooperation through construction of the missing infrastructure to guarantee security of energy supply;

• Building "Balkan" European gas hub that will contribute to energy security in South East Europe;

• Completing interconnectivity in the Western Balkans, fully in line with the priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency and of the European Energy Union.

Calendar of events organized by the Ministry of Energy during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

• 15 March 2018  Round Table – The Role of NGOs in formatting the energy policy in South East Europe, Sofia;

• 19- 20 March 2018 XX Annual Conference of the Municipal Energy Efficiency Network EcoEnergy "Fighting Energy Poverty: Improved Energy Efficiency Policies with Enhanced Participation of Local Authorities", Sofia;

• 11 April 2018 Conference "Clean Energy and Industrial Competitiveness for Sustainable Development – Cohesion, Competitiveness and Security of Supply", Sofia;

• 18 April 2018 Conference "Clean energy for all Europeans: Regulation vs reality?", Sofia;

• 18 April 2018 Conference "Challenges for the European Petroleum Sector in the Perspective of EU Legislation by 2050", Sofia;

• 19 April 2018 Informal meeting of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), Sofia;

• 19 April 2018 High Level Conference "Clean Energy for All Europeans - the Way Ahead", Sofia;

• 19-20 April 2018 April Attaché Trip for Energy Working Party to the Council of the EU;

• 20 April 2018 Conference "Market Integration of RES and Transition to Clean Energy", Sofia;

• 26-27 April 2018 Conference "Intelligent Cities and Communities: Energy Efficiency as an Instrument for the Accelerated Development of the Bulgarian Municipalities", Gabrovo;

• 18 May 2018 European Mining Business Forum 2018, Sofia;

• 15 June 2018 "Energy Union and South-Eastern Europe: energy and national security", Sofia;

• 18-20 June 2018 Attaché Trip for Atomic Questions Working Party to the EU Council;

• 20-22 June 2018 International conference "The way to zero-energy buildings: the challenges for Bulgaria", Burgas;

• 29 June 2018 IGB Construction Inauguration Ceremony;

• 29 June 2018 Annual Meeting of the High Level Group on central and South-Eastern Europe Energy Connectivity (CESEC).