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The four countries reached the agreement on October 6, 2026, during their second Quadrilateral Ministerial Meeting on Energy and Connectivity in Southeast Europe, held in Belgrade.<\/p>\n
The ministers discussed plans to develop a southeastern hub of the national oil-products pipeline system along the Thessaloniki\u2013Skopje\u2013Ni\u0161 route. The proposed link could connect Serbia, through North Macedonia, with Greece\u2019s energy infrastructure and the port of Thessaloniki.<\/p>\n
The Thessaloniki\u2013Skopje oil pipeline resumed operations earlier this year. HELLENiQ ENERGY, which holds a majority stake in the pipeline, uses it to transport diesel to the company\u2019s OKTA facilities in North Macedonia, which it also owns.<\/p>\n
Greece expands its role in the Vertical Gas Corridor<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the Vertical Gas Corridor, welcoming the participation of Serbia and North Macedonia and progress on new interconnections.<\/p>\n Construction of the Greece\u2013North Macedonia gas interconnector is currently underway, with the Greek section expected to finish by the end of 2026 and the North Macedonian section in 2027.<\/p>\n The first pipes for the Serbian section of the Serbia\u2013North Macedonia gas interconnector have already arrived, with installation work expected to begin soon.<\/p>\n Once completed, the project will create a new supply route for liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the terminal at the port of Alexandroupoli, in addition to existing supply routes through Bulgaria.<\/p>\n The countries said the expanded corridor will strengthen the Vertical Gas Corridor as an energy gateway to Southeast and Central Europe and the Western Balkans.<\/p>\n Greece could export 9.5 bcm of gas by 2027<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Greece expects its gas export capacity to reach 9.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) by 2027.<\/p>\n The expanded infrastructure, together with additional LNG supplies, will allow gas to flow towards neighbouring markets, including Serbia and North Macedonia. The countries said this will strengthen regional supply diversification and resilience while supporting EU efforts to reduce dependence on Russian natural gas under the REPowerEUframework.<\/p>\n The ministers also examined how gas infrastructure could support the future transportation of hydrogen.<\/p>\n Electricity, renewables and storage<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The four countries also discussed strengthening electricity interconnections and transmission networks, developing renewable energy projects and expanding pumped-storage and battery projects.<\/p>\n They agreed to improve information-sharing ahead of the winter period, including information on transmission-system readiness and electricity exchange capabilities.<\/p>\n The ministers also stressed the importance of further integrating the electricity markets of Energy Community Contracting Parties with those of EU member states.<\/p>\n They said deeper electricity-market integration would strengthen the region\u2019s energy security and resilience.<\/p>\n Bulgaria also presented progress on the East-West electricity corridor, while the ministers reviewed the stability of the Southeast European electricity system through cross-border interconnections and regional market integration.<\/p>\n Greece pushes regional cooperation<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Greek Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said the four countries face the same challenge of providing affordable and reliable energy to households and businesses.<\/p>\n He highlighted progress since the first quadrilateral meeting in Athens in May and pointed to the September 4 agreement in Thessaloniki by 11 transmission system operators from nine Southern and Central European countries to expand the Vertical Corridor to Serbia and North Macedonia.<\/p>\n Papastavrou said the expansion takes on added importance following the European Union\u2019s decision to phase out Russian natural gas, which he said could create a need to replace around 20 billion cubic metres of gas in Central Europe.<\/p>\n He said the expansion will increase the capacity to transport gas from Greece towards Central Europe while creating additional supply routes and strengthening Greece\u2019s strategic role.<\/p>\n Papastavrou also proposed that the four countries meet regularly, potentially every six months, to monitor progress on energy projects. Bulgaria will host the next meeting in Sofia.<\/p>\n He said Greece supports Serbia\u2019s integration into the European energy system and pledged to support the effort, together with Bulgaria, at EU Energy Council meetings.<\/p>\n Ministers discuss oil corridor and clean-energy transition<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The ministers also agreed to continue cooperation on oil and gas infrastructure while discussing the potential future use of gas networks to transport hydrogen.<\/p>\n They exchanged views on the fair energy transition and decarbonisation of the Western Balkans, stressing the need for coordinated action and adequate EU financial support.<\/p>\n They also discussed the EU\u2019s regulatory framework, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and the support the region needs to adapt to the new requirements.<\/p>\n The four countries reaffirmed their commitment to regional cooperation and to jointly strengthening energy security, connectivity and resilience across Southeast Europe.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n