Balkan Developments

Romania becomes the largest natural gas producer in the EU

Romania was the largest natural gas producer in the EU in 2024 and in 2027 the country will double its production thanks to the Neptun Deep project. This was announced by Romanian Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja, quoted by Radio Romania International.

Neptun Deep is the largest gas project in the Romanian Black Sea waters and the first deepwater offshore project in Romania. With natural gas reserves estimated at 100 billion cubic meters, Neptun Deep will allow Romania to become the largest natural gas producer in the EU. Gas producers believe that there is huge potential for further discoveries in the country's territorial waters. According to some data, the total reserves are around 200 billion cubic meters, which will help diversify supplies in the region. The Neptun Deep is being developed by Austrian OMV. The company has already signed a deal with German group Uniper to supply gas from the Romanian field, starting 2027, amid Russia's suspension of gas supplies via Ukraine.

Security issues in Montenegro have brought thousands of protesters to the streets

Thousands of Montenegrin citizens have demanded the resignations of top security officials after a mass shooting on January 1 that left 13 people dead, including two children. According to protesters in the capital Podgorica and in the town of Cetinje, where the crime took place, law enforcement agencies did not act adequately in the situation, Euronews-Bulgaria reported. "We are here to seek answers. Why is the Cetinje massacre happening for the second time? Why is no one being held accountable?" said Maja Gardašević, the protest organizer.

The shooting occurred after a fight in a bar. One of the participants, a 45-year-old local resident, returned home, took his gun and opened fire in the bar, then in other places in the city, before killing himself. After the tragedy, the government announced that it was tightening gun laws.

In a previous incident in August 2022, an attacker took the lives of 10 people, including two children in Cetinje, before he was killed by a passerby, BTA recalls. According to the state-owned media RTCG, Montenegro has the sixth highest number of illegal weapons per capita in the world.

Bulgaria's entry into Schengen has negatively affected the fuel market in northern Greece

Bulgaria's entry into the Schengen area has made it easier for Greek citizens, who prefer to fill up their cars with fuel at Bulgarian gas stations. They no longer waste time at border checkpoints for checks. The increased traffic of Greek citizens to Bulgarian gas stations, even at night, is negatively affecting the fuel market in Northern Greece, according to media outlets in Komotini, quoted by Nahit Dogu from BNR Kardzhali. Sales of Bulgarian cigarettes, which are cheaper for Greeks, are also rising. According to gas station owners in the Komotini region, the removal of control at the Makaza border crossing will worsen the already acute problem of money flowing out of the local market to Bulgaria. Business associations in Northern Greece are demanding lower fuel taxes in the border regions with Bulgaria - Komotini, Xanthi, Drama and Orestiada. According to them, similar European experience exists and should be implemented.

Belgrade is now the largest European city with free public transport

The European Commission announced that Belgrade has become the largest European city to offer free public transport, state-run media RTS reported. On 1 January 2025, Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, introduced free public transport for all its residents. With a population of 1.7 million, it became the largest European city to adopt such a policy, the EC said in a statement quoted by the media. It also pointed out that Belgrade plans to purchase new vehicles so that by the end of 2025, there will be no vehicles older than two years, with the exception of those purchased in 2022. These measures are expected to reduce traffic jams, as well as harmful gas emissions. The metro is also expected to be completed in 2030.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

Publication in English: Alexander Markov

Photos: Facebook /Sebastian Burduja, Reuters, belgradecard.rs, BGNES