Leading Bulgarian energy experts have cast doubt on the government’s hopes of securing compensation from the EU for high electricity prices. In October, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece called on the European Commission to implement targeted measures, including compensation payments, to address soaring electricity costs in Southeast Europe. They proposed a special tax on excess profits from electricity producers and traders, alongside enhanced energy interconnections in the region, to improve stability and reduce energy isolation from the broader EU market.
However, experts like Kaloyan Staykov from the Institute of Energy Management expressed skepticism about the existence of an EU support mechanism for such compensation, suggesting that while new political dynamics in Brussels could lead to creative solutions, the current agenda lacks provisions for this issue. Martin Vladimirov from the Centre for the Study of Democracy echoed this sentiment, noting Bulgaria’s own internal compensation system that has been in place since October 2021, amounting to over €2.4 billion in state aid expected by the end of 2024 for various institutions affected by high electricity prices.
The Bulgarian Energy Ministry remains committed to advocating for EU funding, reiterating the need for community resources to address high prices, as highlighted in their correspondence with European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson. The complex factors contributing to high electricity costs in the Balkans include inadequate transmission links and compatibility issues in energy networks, which have persisted since mid-2024. Other countries in the region are supportive of Bulgaria’s efforts for a unified response to these challenges.
