Bulgaria’s Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov and Italy’s Energy Minister Gilberto Fratin signed a memorandum of cooperation during Malinov’s working visit to Italy. The agreement is aimed at deepening bilateral collaboration in the energy sector, particularly in achieving the goals of a low-carbon European economy.
The memorandum highlights the shared commitment of Bulgaria and Italy to support the efforts of their respective energy institutions and companies in advancing the nuclear, renewable energy and hydrogen sectors. A key aspect of the agreement is the creation of a joint working group tasked with identifying and developing specific areas for collaboration. This includes promoting the efficient use of renewable energy, renewable hydrogen, and emerging energy technologies, as well as improving energy efficiency and energy storage solutions, implementing smart grids, and supporting research and innovation.
In addition to these technical initiatives, the ministers discussed their cooperation on the accelerated integration of natural gas and electricity markets in Europe, a priority for both countries. Following discussions at the 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Malinov and Fratin agreed that this partnership will be crucial for enhancing energy connectivity across Europe.
Italy has also expressed support for Bulgaria’s initiative to foster energy connectivity dialogues aimed at strengthening regional partnerships within the European Political Community to drive more effective energy transitions. These efforts were presented at COP29 in Baku earlier in November.
During his visit, Minister Malinov also met with leaders from ENEL, one of Europe’s largest energy companies, to discuss the expansion of the renewable energy sector, advancements in energy efficiency, and green technologies. Malinov emphasized that improved electricity connectivity across Europe would provide consumers with access to energy at more competitive prices.
