Romania seeks to support Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in ensuring the EU’s energy security. Romania and the countries concerned have the same visions on the importance of developing transport and logistics, energy and digital connection, Ana Cristina Tinca, secretary of state of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, stated in an interview for the Azerbaijani portal Trend.az, IPN reports.
The Romanian official stressed that it is equally important for both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to be key partners of the European Union in the energy sector. Romania, as an EU member state in the Black Sea Region, will continue to support all projects aimed at strengthening energy security. “We are particularly interested in diversifying supply sources and transport routes, promoting the sustainable development of new energy sources and a balanced transition to a green economy. Of course, increasing the volume of hydrocarbon transport through the Caspian and Black Seas, building new infrastructure capacities or expanding existing ones and developing “green” energy remain key topics of interest to us,” said Ana Cristina Tinka.
Earlier, IPN reported that the European Commission proposed to EU countries a deal with Azerbaijan to increase gas imports and seek the expansion of infrastructure for this purpose. The EU announced its intention to import at least 20 billion cubic meters of gas annually from Azerbaijan by 2027 through the Southern Gas Corridor, “in accordance with commercial viability and market demand.” The Republic of Moldova is connected both to the EU Platform for the joint purchasing of natural gas and to the dialogue with the Azerbaijani side. Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Andrei Spînu said the existence of various Azerbaijani and Romanian energy projects is important. The Iasi – Ungheni – Chisinau pipeline is also part of the equation, a Romanian investment in the Republic of Moldova that is to be developed.