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In the extremely unstable geopolitical context of recent years, marked by armed conflicts, sabotage of energy infrastructure and the deliberate decoupling of Russian natural gas supplies to Europe, the need for a fundamental reconfiguration of the gas supply route becomes obvious and urgent. The suspension of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, the shutdown of the Yamal-Europe pipeline and the compromise of the Nord Stream pipelines have led to the collapse of the old traditional delivery routes, putting countries such as Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia and Austria in difficulty. The only remaining functional route – TurkStream/Balkan Stream – crosses Bulgaria and has a limited capacity, which shows the vulnerability of the European energy system. In this tense context, the joint initiative of Greece, Bulgaria and Romania to create a “Vertical Gas Corridor” takes on vital strategic importance. This initiative, discussed since 2014 but reactivated in practice after the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, proposes a complete reversal of the gas transport paradigm: instead of north to south, gas would flow from south to north – from the LNG ports and terminals in Greece, through Bulgaria and Romania, to Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Ukraine, and further to the rest of Central Europe.

The reorientation of the energy flow is based on the valorization of existing infrastructures – such as the old Trans-Balkan pipeline – but requires massive investments in modernization, expansion and interconnection between national systems. The Vertical Corridor project would essentially allow the transport of gas from alternative sources – the United States, Qatar, Egypt, Algeria, Azerbaijan – to regions that, until recently, depended almost exclusively on Russian gas.

Romania and Bulgaria – strategic pillars in the new energy map of Europe

At the center of this new energy architecture are Romania and Bulgaria, which are no longer just marginal transit countries, but would become the main pillars of the energy infrastructure of the entire Central and Eastern Europe. Their geographical position, proximity to alternative gas sources (Greece, the Black Sea, Turkey) and the existence of already functional cross-border pipelines give them a key role in this new equation.

In order for this role to be fulfilled effectively, the following is necessary:

- Rapid development of the interconnection networks between Bulgaria and Romania, which currently consist of two points (Ruse-Giurgiu and Kardam-Negru Vodă) – insufficient to support a diversified and secure flow of gas;

- Expanding transport capacities by modernizing existing pipelines and building new ones, such as those proposed in the Oryahovo-Bechet or Svishtov-Zimnicea areas, which can be integrated into the European infrastructure;

- Capitalizing on underground gas storage facilities in western Ukraine, which can function as a strategic buffer for storing and redistributing gas in times of crisis or increased demand.

However, the project faces significant roadblocks. The most important is the lack of clear and committed financing, both at European and transatlantic levels. Although project participants hoped for generous co-financing from the European Commission, this support has not materialized to date. In parallel, expectations regarding American support, through USAID or other funds, have been drastically reduced with the change of Administration in Washington and the intention of the new leadership to close the agency.

A second major obstacle is access to sufficient quantities of natural gas at fair prices, as spot markets impose unstable and often prohibitive prices, making it difficult to plan long-term imports and reserves of capacity.

However, with the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, the idea of ​​building a strategic gas pipeline between Qatar and Turkey is being revived, which would cross the Middle East and transport gas from the world's largest gas field (South Pars/North Dome) to Europe. This route, together with resources in Azerbaijan, the Black Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean (Israel, Cyprus) and Turkish LNG terminals, creates an emerging network of alternative sources, which, however, requires a functional transport infrastructure to the heart of Europe. Romania and Bulgaria, as transit countries, are thus called upon to play an essential intermediary role between source and consumer.

An important advantage is that the investments required for the new interconnections are not exorbitant, given that the national networks in Bulgaria and Romania are already approaching the border. Moreover, co-financing from European funds remains a realistic option, given that energy diversification is a strategic priority at the European Union level.

Forecasts indicate that several international suppliers are already interested in reserving capacity at the entry points in Bulgaria and exit points in Romania, which underlines the need to expand and modernize these points as soon as possible.

Project pitfalls

Turning Romania and Bulgaria into a key energy corridor is not just a geopolitical opportunity, but a strategic necessity in the context of a Europe that wants to free itself from dependence on Russian gas while still having security of supply. The Vertical Gas Corridor, projects such as the Qatar-Turkey pipeline and the development of new interconnections can transform them into a regional energy hub. However, these efforts require political will, strategic vision and adequate funding. Without concrete and coordinated action, the opportunity may be lost – and Europe will remain vulnerable to future crises.

The Vertical Gas Corridor has the potential to fundamentally change the energy balance of Central and South-Eastern Europe. However, to move from the stage of strategic concept to functional reality, a radical change in the way the states involved collaborate is required. Without alignment of political priorities, a common governance structure and priority treatment at European level, the project risks failing exactly where other initiatives (such as Nabucco) have failed: in regional disagreements, institutional slowness and lack of a common vision.

Thus, political will is another challenge regarding the implementation of such a project. If Hungary maintains a privileged relationship with Russia, Greece is particularly concerned with the exploitation of the LNG terminals in Alexandroupolis and Revithoussa, Bulgaria is marked by political instability and the successive change of governments in Sofia, Romania is currently prioritizing domestic projects, such as the exploitation of gas from the Black Sea, paying relatively little attention to joint regional initiatives.

This whole picture denotes the lack of a clearly defined regional leader.

In the absence of an entity or a country to take the initiative of the political and technical coordination of this cross-border project, the plan risks remaining fragmented, slowed down and lacking coherence. In this context, Romania and Bulgaria are best positioned – and naturally responsible – to take on this role of regional co-leaders.

Moving forward

Both countries are at the heart of the proposed corridor, being not only transit countries, but true essential links for the connection between alternative gas sources (from Greece, Qatar, the USA, Azerbaijan, etc.) and Central European markets, such as Hungary, Slovakia or Ukraine.

Moreover, the energy infrastructure of the Vertical Corridor cannot function without close and synchronized cooperation between Romania and Bulgaria. Each of them controls critical sections of the route – Bulgaria manages the interconnection points with Greece and takes over LNG flows from the South, while Romania must ensure the efficient transit of these volumes to the North and West, including to its own underground storage facilities.

In addition, the two states have complementary capacities. Romania has a well-developed underground storage system and an extensive internal network, and Bulgaria is already in a position to integrate flows from ICGB and Sidirokastro-Kulata. The simultaneous and balanced development of these networks can maximize the economic and technical efficiency of the corridor, reducing the need for massive investments and avoiding operational bottlenecks.

To turn this complementarity into a strategic advantage, it is necessary to create a bilateral coordination mechanism between the two governments, which could take the form of an Intergovernmental Council for Energy and Regional Security, with a permanent technical secretariat to coordinate interconnection projects, pipeline investments and joint applications for European funding. Such an entity would allow for the alignment of implementation schedules, the harmonization of technical standards and the promotion of a unified vision to international partners.

At the same time, a common Romanian-Bulgarian voice in Brussels and in relations with international investors would carry much more weight than isolated approaches. Joint support for the project within EU initiatives (such as the Connecting Europe Facility or the Projects of Common Interest – PCI) could ensure access to non-reimbursable financing and high-level political support. In addition, a joint promotion campaign – through regional forums, energy summits and collaborations with strategic partners – could generate international visibility and credibility, attracting investments and external support.

Beyond the technical and financial component, close cooperation between Romania and Bulgaria would also represent an example of responsible regional leadership. At a time when South-Eastern Europe is often perceived as a vulnerable, dependent or reactive area, an active and visionary partnership between the two countries would send a clear signal that the region can generate strategic solutions, not just problems.

Thus, Romania and Bulgaria should assume this role as co-leaders of the Vertical Gas Corridor. It is a rare geopolitical opportunity – not only to support Europe’s energy diversification, but also to strengthen its status within the European Union, as mature, responsible regional actors capable of managing large-scale projects. Without this clear and coordinated commitment, the project risks remaining a promising initiative without real impact.

Photo source: PxHere.com.