The European Union will provide Serbia with €165 million in direct budget support so that citizens and small and medium-sized enterprises can pay for energy and deal with the current energy crisis. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the support during a tour of the works on the gas interconnector near Niš. “I think this is necessary so that Serbia, like other countries, can support the vulnerable parts of society, so that they can cope with the higher prices of energy products,” she said.

The President of the Commission noted that this is a short-term solution and that it is necessary to work additionally on the strategic strengthening of energy security, regional and European connection and the diversification of gas sources.

The new Serbia – Bulgaria gas interconnector will make it possible for the country and the region to receive gas from different sources. The project was partially financed through EU grants, with €49.6 million euros, as well as a €25 million favourable loan from the European Investment Bank, for Serbia to pay for the part of the gas pipeline that passes through Serbia. So far, the Republic of Serbia has allocated €15 million for this project and €7.5 million for preparatory work and design.

The gas interconnector, joining up the gas networks of Serbia and Bulgaria, will increase the diversification of energy sources in Serbia and the Western Balkans region, enabling Serbia to have a more secure and stable supply from a number of gas network systems, especially from Azerbaijan and the future LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis, Greece, which can receive gas from all over the world.