November 13, 2024, Baku - Republic of Moldova and Bulgaria will collaborate to ensure the continuity of electricity and natural gas supplies and to effectively manage potential crisis situations. The provisions of the Joint Action Plan are included in the Memorandum of Understanding, signed today by Minister of Energy Victor Parlicov and his Bulgarian counterpart, Vladimir Malinov, on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku.

The Memorandum provides for the creation of a Joint Energy Working Group within 30 days of its signing, which will bring together representatives of the Ministries of Energy of both states and of the transmission system operators for electricity and natural gas. This group will have the role of developing and implementing a Joint Action Plan and solidarity measures, to be activated in the event of an energy crisis, at the request of one of the parties.

The Joint Action Plan will include measures to maintain balance in the energy and gas transmission networks and will support Moldovan companies’ access to the storage infrastructure and energy markets in Bulgaria. The Memorandum also provides for the application of solidarity measures in the event of a crisis, with the commitment that these will be implemented without compromising the energy security of the supplying country.

“Moldovan-Bulgarian relations are particularly close, Bulgaria being a partner of the Republic of Moldova in several areas, economic, social, educational and energy. We are happy to develop this strategic partnership that contributes to the stability and energy security of both states,” Minister Victor Parlicov said during the event.

At the same time, the document underlines the efforts of the Republic of Moldova to integrate into the single European energy market and contributes to the achievement of the objectives of the European Union and the Energy Community regarding solidarity and stability of supply.