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Assemblée parlementaire de l'OTAN
HomeMEDIA RESOURCES200816 May 2008 - NATO LEGISLATORS VISIT ROMANIA AND BULGARIA
16 May 2008 - NATO LEGISLATORS VISIT ROMANIA AND BULGARIA
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Energy security was a dominant theme during the visit of the Science and Technology Committee’s Sub-Committee on Energy and Environmental Security to Romania and Bulgaria on 12-15 May. The eighteen-member delegation, led by Sub-Committee Chairman Cristian Buzea (Romania), met with senior representatives of ministries of foreign affairs, defence, economics and environment, and members of respective parliamentary committees in both countries as well as with independent experts. The NATO PA delegation also visited nuclear power plants in Cernavoda (Romania) and Kozloduy (Bulgaria). |
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Romania and Bulgaria occupy a strategic position between the largest energy consumer and producer markets. Both countries are engaged in multinational projects designed to secure supplies of oil and gas to Europe, including the EU-backed Nabucco gas pipeline and the South Stream project, advocated primarily by Russia. The Romanian and Bulgarian government representatives emphasised that these projects should not be seen as rivals, since Europe will need both of them to satisfy the surging demand for energy resources. The environmental aspect of energy projects was also emphasised. Nuclear energy is seen by Romanians and Bulgarians as the key to achieving greater energy independence while honouringcommitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Bulgarian interlocutors noted that the forced premature closure of two reactors in Kozloduy resulted in an increase in coal-based electricity production. During the visit, the NATO PA delegation also discussed issues including the outcome of the NATO Bucharest Summit, missile defence, space policies, naval training and environmental protection programmes.
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