We the Representatives of the Participating States: Volkan Bozkır, Ivica Dačić, Nikos Kotzias, Nikola Poposki and Péter Szijjártó having met in Budapest on 7 April 2015.
Mindful that cooperation in ensuring energy supply security would contribute to the good neighbourly relations between our countries and to the welfare of the citizens;
Emphasising the importance of guaranteeing reliable, uninterrupted and affordable energy sources – especially natural gas – for the citizens and industries of our countries, and attracting investments to our regions in order to assist economic and employment growth;
Taking into consideration the role of European funds to develop infrastructure projects in Central and South Eastern Europe in reaching a Western European level of diversification, which would in turn make a significant contribution to the overall energy security of Europe and must therefore be a common responsibility of the European Union;
Noting that several natural gas infrastructure projects are currently implemented, or planned to be realized in the future in order to improve natural gas supplies at the national and regional levels;
With regard to our aim to increase interconnections between the natural gas systems of our countries;
Expressed our support to create a commercially viable option of route and source diversification for delivering natural gas from the Republic of Turkey through the territories of our countries to the countries of Central and South Eastern Europe as well as other countries, which would enable the Participating States:
- To support the energy markets of Turkey, the European Union and the Contracting Parties of the Energy Community through the Southern Gas Corridor;
- To work on new possibilities for creating regional economic development via interconnecting the natural gas infrastructures of our countries with European Union financial assistance;
- To welcome in cooperative spirit other willing countries of the region to participate in these efforts;
- To complement the operation of gas storage facilities with the aim of facilitating trading, providing seasonal balancing and increasing the security of supply in case of disruption of gas supplies.
Agreed that this Declaration affirms political intent only; and that further exchange of views and dialogue is needed on the specific questions among the respective Participating States, as well as the concerned stakeholder companies.
Adopted in Budapest on April 7, 2015
April 7, 2015