On September 8, Bulgaria and Germany signed a significant declaration of cooperation in the fields of energy, green policies and climate protection. The agreement was formalized in Thessaloniki, Greece, by Bulgaria’s caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov and Germany’s Economy and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck.
The declaration outlines plans to deepen collaboration in several key areas, including hydrogen technology, renewable energy, green transition, energy corridors and supply diversification. Both nations are committed to enhancing energy efficiency, boosting sector decarbonization, developing green energy corridors and interconnections, and advancing carbon capture, use, and storage.
In recent years, Bulgaria has embarked on large-scale projects aimed at greening its economy, focusing on transforming its major coal regions and investing in photovoltaic energy and green hydrogen. However, Bulgaria’s ongoing political instability, with elections set for October amid a prolonged political crisis, has hindered access to nearly €5 billion in stimulus funds. This funding shortfall could impact future projects, including those related to green energy.
Since joining the European Union in 2007, Germany has been Bulgaria’s largest trading partner, with trade expected to reach €23 billion by 2023. Additionally, Malinov met with Greek Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis to discuss the strategic importance of Bulgarian-Greek cooperation for European energy security. Both officials anticipate the LNG terminal near Alexandroupolis will become operational on October 1, further strengthening regional energy links.
