The fundamental problem of the energy market in Europe is the lack of interconnections, and these represent a zero priority for the European Union, the minister of energy, Sebastian Burduja, stated on Wednesday.
„In Europe, the problem is the interconnections. If you look at the spot market, on those maps that I wake up with every morning and see that Romania is often in a redder color, and we don’t really like the colour red after the decades we spent under this sign, the fundamental problem is the lack of interconnections. And, starting with Belgium, which took over the Presidency, and then with Hungary, including now, with the new European Commissioner Jorgensen [Dan Jorgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing, editor’s note], interconnections are a top priority for the European Union. So I expect that in the new multiannual financial framework, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria will receive funds, and especially the transit areas, to develop these interconnections, so that we, in Europe, will be on a truly interconnected market and therefore have a much better price, similar to the prices in Western Europe,” said Burduja.
He mentioned the lack of interconnections in central Europe, with Austria-Slovakia not being interconnected at the moment, and the fact that Austria-Hungary could double its interconnections with minimal investment.
„Think that, basically, the achievement of these interconnections would benefit us, that is, it would lower our prices at many times of the year, but it would disadvantage the Austrians and others because their prices would increase slightly. Of course, as we develop our production capacity, everyone will benefit from a truly integrated European market. But, returning to the principles, we are in the European Union, we have a single energy market, or we should have it and we don’t. And, if you look at the maps mentioned earlier, you will see that we are always connecting, for example, with Bulgaria or Greece or both and at many times of the year we have higher prices. If these interconnections were to develop, you realize that prices would increase on the entire regional market, for us they would decrease, but for other states that are now better connected to the west, to cheaper energy, from France or Spain, prices would increase in the moment when it would be better interconnected with the East. It’s a principle of communicating vessels, if you want,” the ministers said at the ZF Power Summit 2025.
AGERPRES
