“Sustainable Energy Union with a forward-looking climate change policy” is the motto of the informal meeting of EU energy ministers that will take place on April 19, 2018 in Sofia.
Participants will discuss the progress achieved on the files of the Clean Energy package relating to energy efficiency, renewable energy, the governance of the Energy Union and the Regulation on the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators of the Member States (ACER), and provide guidance for continuing the negotiations.
The meeting will be chaired by Temenuzhka Petkova, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Following the meeting of EU energy ministers, a high-level conference on “Clean energy for all Europeans – the way ahead” will be held.
The conference will address instruments for transition to a low-carbon economy and regional energy cooperation in the Western Balkans.
Regarding Bulgaria’s progress towards its 2020 targets for energy efficiency, renewables and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, its energy security situation, and the development of its internal energy market, European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union, Maroš Šefčovič, said:
“I will encourage Bulgaria to deliver its national 2030 energy and climate plan in a comprehensive way, in a timely fashion and with involvement of civic society. The plans are not mere ink on paper but a strong signal towards investors whom we need on board for the energy transition to succeed. Our estimates show that achieving the EU’s 2030 targets could lead to an increase of 1.2% in GDP of Bulgaria, more than the EU average. The Bulgarian Presidency plays a vital role in getting us across the Energy Union’s finish line.”
According to EU data, from 1990 to 2016, Bulgaria decreased its greenhouse gas emissions by over 40% and is well on track to meet its 2020 reduction target for sectors outside the EU Emissions Trading System.
Nevertheless, it remains the most greenhouse gas-intensive country in the EU.
It is also the most energy-intensive economy in the EU and, while its energy efficiency has improved, continued energy savings will be needed to achieve its 2020 target for energy efficiency.
Bulgaria is on track to meet its renewable energy target for 2020.
In terms of security of energy supply, Bulgaria is relatively vulnerable, as its level of interconnection with neighboring countries is low.
It is also heavily reliant on domestically mined lignite, and as its economy decarbonises it will need to find new internal sources of less carbon-intensive fossil fuels and renewable energy, or else increase energy imports.
The situation should be improved by its membership of the Central Eastern and South Eastern Gas Connectivity (CESEC) regional initiative, focused on building cross-border infrastructure, which will help to diversify gas supplies in the region…. / IBNA
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Zaev announces the creation of the team that will lead the EU negotiations
Prime Minister of FYROM, Zoran Zaev, said today that now that the recommendation for the start of EU accession talks has been given, the team that will lead the the talks will immediately be appointed.
Zaev said that he’s very happy with the recommendation, but now there’s a need to focus on the reforms.
“EU accession will require progress in issues such as judicial reform, rule of law, human rights and so on”, said Zaev in today’s session of the parliamentary committee for European affairs, which discussed the European Commission report on FYROM.
Expert of Balkan affairs, Daniel Serwer, says that the EU report on FYROM is a positive one, but, according to him, there are problems which need to be looked into. /ibna/
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Hahn is optimistic that the name contest will be solved in the next two weeks
The EU Enlargment Commissioner, Johannes Hahn is optimistic that the name dispute between FYROM and Greece may be solved in the next 15 days.
“There must be at least one solution which would give way to the start of the EU accession talks for FYROM”, Hahn declared in a speech delivered in front of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament.
“I believe that everyone agree that this will be good for the country, society and the entire Western Balkans”, he added.
Hahn also said that FYROM has overcome the deep political crisis and is making progress for the implementation of reforms, but he stressed that “there’s no time for complacency”./ibna/
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Average price of agricultural land in Bulgaria rose by close to 15% in 2017 – statistics institute
The average price of 0.1 hectare of agricultural land in Bulgaria reached 872 leva (about 446 euro) in 2017, an increase of 14.6 per cent compared with 2016, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said on April 24.
The price of arable land in Bulgaria increased by 13 per cent in 2017 compared with 2016, while the price of permanent grassland decreased by 3.4 per cent, the NSI said.
The highest price of agricultural land in 2017 was in north-eastern Bulgaria, 1 1401 leva for 0.1 hectare.
The largest increase in price for 0.1 hectare of agricultural land was in the south-western part of Bulgaria, by 83.4 per cent on an annual basis.
The year 2017 saw the price of agricultural land in the north-central region decrease by 13 per cent.
The average rent price per 0.1 hectare of hired/leased agricultural land in 2017 reached 46 leva, 4.5 per cent higher than in 2016. In comparison to the previous year, the increase in the price of arable land was 6.8 per cent, while the increase in permanent grassland was 6.7 per cent, the NSI said.
In 2017, the highest price per one decar hired/leased agricultural land was in north-eastern Bulgaria, 67 leva. An increase of rent payment in comparison to the previous year was observed in all statistical regions, the NSI said… / IBNA
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President of the European Council visits Tirana
The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk has arrived today in Tirana.
This visit comes as part of a Balkan tour. In a joint press conference, Albanian PM, Edi Rama expressed his gratitude for the positive recommendation to start accession talks.
“I would like to thank the president of the EU Council for this visit at a time that Albania has been recommended to start EU accession talks. Every Albanian is looking forward to continuing this journey and to having the support of the member countries for this recommendation”, Rama said.
On his part, Mr. Tusk said that his dream is to see Albania as part of the European Union one day, but he said that the countries of the EU need to be convinced about this.
“Negotiations with the EU are like a race with many obstacles, but it’s worth it”, he said among others. /ibna/
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Challenges that diplomacy in Kosovo encounters
At this moment, Kosovo’s foreign policy is focused on the integration in the UN and dialogue with Serbia.
In a meeting held by the Pristina Institute for Political Studies (PIPS) dubbed “Kosovo’s foreign policy: Priorities and Challenges”, Foreign minister Behxhet Pacolli said that Kosovo’s main challenge is integration in the United Nations and dialogue with Serbia.
“Our biggest challenge is integration of Kosovo in different organizations, although Kosovo has made big steps forward by becoming a member of different international organizations and being recognized by 117 countries of the world. Our main challenge is Kosovo’s integration and Kosovo’s UN accession”, Pacolli said.
Pacolli also said that Serbia is challenging Kosovo in every step of the way./ibna/
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