„Europe must protect its energy independence and the interests of the people. Stara Zagora is one of the areas most affected by the new climate policies and that is why the Maritsa Basin must be preserved. This does not mean abandoning the climate goals of the European Union, but taking into account reality, the economy and the interests of the state. Bulgaria needs the Maritsa Basin, these capacities and a reasonable energy mix in which renewable sources, nuclear energy and thermal power plants should be in a balanced ratio.“ This was stated by the Bulgarian MEP from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Christian Vigenin, at the BTA press club in Stara Zagora. He expressed his support for the leader of the BSP - OL list in the Stara Zagora electoral district, Ivan Krastev. The regional and municipal chairman of the party in Stara Zagora were present, as well as Krasimir Kurtev, deputy mayor of Radnevo municipality and chairman of the BSP Municipal Council in Radnevo, and Stanislav Gabrovski, mayor of the village of Obruchishte and chairman of the BSP Municipal Council in Galabovo.
The MEP made a direct connection between the topic of energy security and military strikes against Iran. He recalled that both the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Party of European Socialists have expressed their categorical disagreement with the military operation and have insisted on an immediate cessation of hostilities and diplomatic solutions. According to him, it is worrying that the right is turning a blind eye to what is happening, while the consequences are already visible in the rising prices of energy carriers, which will inevitably affect the prices of electricity, fuel and essential goods.
“When we talk about the high prices and the dependence of Europe and Bulgaria on the import of raw materials and energy carriers, we see here in the Maritsa Basin a resource that is ours, that makes us independent and that can really help in critical situations“, Vigenin emphasized.
For his part, Ivan Krastev emphasized that since the beginning of the year, tens of thousands of households have received inexplicably high electricity bills, and more and more manufacturing enterprises are closing their doors precisely because of the high price of electricity. Krastev pointed out that base capacities are without alternative for a number of industries and that Bulgaria cannot afford to decommission thermal power plants before the construction of new capacities with the same capacity is guaranteed. “The future of the Maritsa Basin is a matter of national security and jobs“, he commented, emphasizing that Bulgarian TPPs ensure the smooth electricity supply not only to Bulgaria, but also to the Republic of North Macedonia and a large part of Northern Greece.
Ivan Krastev formulated the demands that the BSP - OL is putting forward: revision of the Green Deal in its part for large energy capacities, ensuring a necessary postponement for the construction of new baseload capacities, restrictions and compensations for emission prices above 50 euros per ton, as well as a more active role of the state, including as an owner in private thermal power plants.
Christian Vigenin reported that a few days ago, the chairman of the BSP Krum Zarkov held meetings in Brussels with the Vice-President of the European Commission Teresa Ribera and two important issues were raised - the high prices of electricity in Bulgaria and the implementation of the Emissions Trading System. The conversation pointed out that the lack of sufficient connectivity of energy networks leads to the paradoxical situation of the poorest countries in Europe paying the most expensive electricity. According to Vigenin, the European Commission is already working on expanding the region's energy connectivity, which would allow for the transfer of electricity to and from Central, Western and Northern Europe.
The participants in the press conference united around the thesis that the protection of the Maritsa Basin, jobs, affordable electricity and Bulgaria's energy independence requires coordinated action at local, national and European levels.
To contact the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP: https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/