The real policy of growth is the policy that supports energy efficiency, no matter whether we are speaking of creating new jobs or making our enterprises more competitive. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said upon his arrival in Brussels in order to participate in the European Council meeting. The Bulgarian Head of State expressed his content with the European Commission’s support for the three priorities set in the energy sector – energy efficiency, diversification of the energy sources and liberalization of the energy market.

By 2014 the single European Energy Market should be fully set up, the projects for energy inter-connectedness should be carried out – the inter-connectors, and the rules regulating the energy sector will be harmonized. By 2015 even the most isolated in energy terms EU member states should be connected to the gas and electricity supply networks. Then the liberalization of the energy market should also be completed, the President added.

Rosen Plevneliev further added that the member states would be provided the opportunity to be more flexible while implementing EU funds for financing the measures for energy efficiency.

In Brussels the EU state and government leaders are debating the energy sector in the context of the EU’s efforts to promote economic growth, stimulate employment and increase competitiveness. Tax policy, with a particular focus on how to improve the efficiency of tax collection and the measures to best tackle tax evasion are also on the agenda of the summit.