First stop: Mamaia, the glittering jewel of the Romanian coast. You browse a few options, check the prices, and… wait. You do a double-take. The numbers on the screen make you wince. 16,000 USD for a 7-night accommodation in an apartment?

Of course, you can always opt for the second option, available at “only” 8,000 USD, but still…

On a whim, you type “Sunny Beach, Bulgaria” into the search bar. The results load, and your jaw drops. It’s not just a little cheaper. It’s a different reality altogether. Even with the “Highest first” option, they’re at half the price of Romania’s choice. Why?

If this scenario feels familiar, you’re not alone. For years, a quiet exodus has been taking place every summer as hundreds of thousands of tourists, including Romanians, vote with their wallets and head south. But as we head into the 2025 season, the difference isn’t just a whisper; it’s a deafening roar.

So, what’s going on? Is Bulgaria simply the cheaper option, or is there a deeper story behind the empty sunbeds in Romania and the bustling promenades across the border? We’ve dug into the numbers, the experiences, and the on-the-ground realities to give you the ultimate 2025 guide to where you should spend your hard-earned money.

The Great Wallet Debate: A Head-to-Head Price Clash for 2025

Let’s get straight to the point: the money. To understand the massive gap in value, we’ve put together a side-by-side comparison of what you can expect to pay in Romania’s premier resort, Mamaia, versus Bulgaria’s popular hotspots like Sunny Beach or Golden Sands.

Table: Estimated Daily Costs for a 2025 Summer Holiday

The numbers speak for themselves. A five-day, all-inclusive trip for two at a 4-star hotel in Romania can easily top €1,300. In Bulgaria, a similar package can be found starting from €1,000. That €300 difference is more than just pocket change; it’s the cost of your flights, extra activities, or even another short break later in the year.  

Beyond the Bill: Bulgaria’s All-Inclusive Secret Weapon

The price difference is stark, but for many, the real game-changer is how you spend your money. Bulgaria has mastered the art of the all-inclusive (AI) holiday, a concept that remains surprisingly rare on the Romanian coast.  

In resorts like Sunny Beach or Golden Sands, you can find as many as 20 hotels offering AI packages. On the entire Romanian seaside, you’d be lucky to find 10 in total. For families, especially, the AI model is revolutionary. It offers cost predictability—no more worrying about the price of every ice cream, drink, or snack. It’s a stress-free experience where you don’t feel like you’re being “cheated by the merchants” on every small purchase, a sentiment often echoed by tourists who’ve tried both coasts.  

This isn’t just about being cheap. A fascinating study found that while 31% of Romanian tourists chose Bulgaria for the low prices, an even larger group—38%—chose it for the perceived superior standard of services. This brings us to the next crucial point.  

The Romanian Seaside – A Reality Check for 2025

You’ve seen the glamorous photos from Mamaia’s beach clubs and heard the legends of Vama Veche’s bohemian nights. The Romanian seaside has a certain mystique, a promise of vibrant parties and golden sands.

But as you plan your 2025 trip, it’s time for a candid look beyond the marketing gloss. What is the real on-the-ground experience like for a tourist?

For many, a holiday here can feel like a high-stakes gamble. It’s a place of jarring contrasts, where premium price tags often collide with inconsistent quality, leaving visitors to wonder what exactly they are paying for. Let’s peel back the layers and explore the common hurdles that define a holiday on the Romanian coast.

The Sticker Shock: Expensive Food for a Mixed Bag of Service

The first thing many visitors notice is the cost. Romania’s top resorts, particularly Mamaia, are not shy about their pricing, which can feel more in line with established Mediterranean hotspots than those of the Black Sea. A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant in Mamaia or Vama Veche can cost between 40 and 100 RON (€8 to €20) per main course. All-inclusive packages, a rarity on the Romanian coast, can command nightly rates of €138 to €168. Even a simple day on the sand adds up, with a set of two sunbeds and an umbrella costing around 100 RON (€20).  

These prices would be perfectly acceptable if they guaranteed a top-tier experience. Unfortunately, this is where the gamble begins. Tourist feedback and even official tourism strategies have long pointed to a culture of “poor professional training” and “outdated mentalities” in the service sector. Visitors often report that the level of customer service doesn’t match the high costs, feeling it is “inferior to those of the competing destinations” like Bulgaria or Greece.  

This disconnect is most evident in the hotel sector. While there are certainly excellent, modern hotels, the overall quality can be a matter of chance. The coast is dominated by 2- and 3-star properties, many of which are described as having “dubious quality of services”. One tourist review perfectly captured this sentiment, noting a hotel was “4* for Romanian standards but only three stars for the American standards”. This inconsistency leaves many travelers feeling that they are not getting the value they paid for.  

The Long Walk to the Water: Hotels vs. The Beach

Another frustration for many visitors is the physical layout of the resorts. Unlike destinations where large hotels with integrated pools and private beach areas are the norm, the Romanian coast’s development has been more fragmented. Many hotels, even some modern ones, are not situated directly on the beach and may lack their pools or have limited, crowded facilities. One review for a 4-star property noted it was “a bit isolated without beach access”.  

Not only that, but in resorts like Mamaia or even Venus, public domain administrators decided to enlarge the beaches, under the pretext that erosion endangers the very existence of the beaches. The result? Go to the Romanian seaside while walking on the beach. You might be surprised that Google Maps shows you in the water, as it’s not updated to reflect the latest 100-200 meters long beaches after the “cosmetic” procedure was implemented.

This creates a daily migration where guests from numerous hotels and apartment blocks all converge on the same stretches of sand. While some areas are well-maintained by beach bars, they can become intensely crowded, especially in peak season. This rush to the public beaches diminishes the sense of a relaxing, exclusive getaway that the high prices might suggest.  

A Closer Look at the Sand and Sea

The beach is the heart of any seaside holiday, but here too, the Romanian coast faces significant challenges. While the sand can be soft and inviting on selected private beaches, the cleanliness of the environment is a growing concern.

On other beaches, especially those closer to the water, the shells hinder you from taking a barefoot walk, which is frustrating.

Scientific studies have revealed a worrying level of pollution. A recent analysis found that popular Romanian beaches, such as Mamaia and Costinești, have significantly higher concentrations of microplastics in their sand compared to their Bulgarian counterparts. This pollution is partly linked to the Danube River, which deposits tons of plastic into the Black Sea daily, and is exacerbated by high tourist traffic.  

This isn’t just a lab result; it’s something tourists take notice of. In surveys comparing the two coasts, travellers frequently cite “cleaner beaches” and “seawater without algae” as primary reasons for choosing to holiday in Bulgaria instead. For health-conscious families and environmentally aware travellers, this is a significant drawback that no amount of nightlife can compensate for.  

Bottom line? While the Romanian seaside can offer moments of genuine fun and luxury, the overall experience for 2025 remains unpredictable. It is a destination where you might pay a premium price only to be met with mediocre service, a long trek to a crowded beach, and environmental concerns that are hard to ignore. For an increasing number of tourists, this gamble is no longer worth the admission price.

What Do You Actually Get for Your Money? The Quality Question

A holiday is more than a spreadsheet of costs; it’s an experience. And when it comes to the quality of that experience, the gap between the two countries becomes even wider.

• Pristine Beaches vs. Pollution Worries: Bulgaria has a stellar reputation for its clean coastline. In 2024, it was ranked second in Europe for having “excellent” quality bathing water, with a staggering 97.9% of its waters meeting the highest standard. A record number of its beaches have been awarded the prestigious “Blue Flag” for cleanliness and safety. Meanwhile, scientific studies have revealed significantly higher concentrations of microplastic pollution on Romanian beaches, particularly in popular resorts like Mamaia and Costinești. For many, the choice between swimming in award-winning clean water and water with documented pollution is a simple one.  
• Service with a Smile vs. Service with a Shrug: Tourist feedback consistently points to a more professional and welcoming service culture in Bulgaria. Visitors often highlight better facilities, more activities, and even thoughtful touches like Romanian-speaking staff in popular resorts. In contrast, a common complaint about the Romanian seaside is that the service doesn’t match the premium prices being charged, with an attitude that can feel indifferent compared to international standards.  
• What You See is What You Get: There’s a widespread perception that hotel star ratings in Romania aren’t always reliable, with a 4-star property sometimes feeling more like a 3-star experience. Bulgaria, having built its coast for an international audience, has a much larger and more modern stock of 4- and 5-star hotels that adhere to global expectations.  

Find Your Vibe: Bulgaria or Romania?

The two coastlines also cater to fundamentally different holiday styles.

Bulgaria has cleverly segmented its market. Sunny Beach is the undisputed party capital, a massive, vibrant hub built for a young, international crowd seeking 24/7 nightlife on a budget. But if that’s not your scene, you can head to quieter, charming towns like  

Sozopol or Ravda, which are deliberately positioned as peaceful, family-friendly havens with traditional food and a relaxed atmosphere.  

Romania’s offering is less diverse. Mamaia is the epicentre of glamour and partying, famous for its exclusive beach clubs, such as LOFT and Fratelli, which attract a chic, affluent crowd. But it’s also notoriously expensive and crowded.  

Vama Veche offers a bohemian, counter-culture alternative, perfect for students and free spirits, but even this once-gritty paradise is seeing prices climb. This leaves families and those seeking a quiet escape with fewer distinct and modern options.  

The Verdict for Your 2025 Holiday

So, where should you book for summer 2025? The evidence points to a clear conclusion:

If you are a family on a budget or anyone who values a stress-free, predictable holiday with clean beaches and reliable service, Bulgaria is the undisputed champion. It offers unbeatable value for money, not just by being cheaper, but by delivering a higher quality, all-inclusive experience that eliminates financial guesswork.  

If your idea of a perfect holiday involves high-energy, exclusive beach clubs and rubbing shoulders with a glamorous crowd where price is no object, Mamaia still holds its allure. Be prepared for the premium price tag and the ongoing debate about whether the service truly justifies the cost.  

And if you’re looking for a bohemian, non-stop party on the sand, Vama Veche still has a unique spirit. But don’t expect it to be the budget-friendly escape it once was.  

As you plan your 2025 summer escape, the choice is clearer than ever. One coast has built itself into a competitive, international destination focused on value and quality. The other is struggling with an identity crisis, charging premium prices for a product that many feel no longer meets their needs.

So, where will you be laying your towel this summer? Have you already made the switch to the south? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

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Bulgaria, just across the border, is an attractive destination for company formation, offering a low corporate tax rate, EU membership, and a straightforward registration process. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how Romanians can set up a company in Bulgaria in 2025.

Why Set Up a Company in Bulgaria?

• Low Corporate Tax: Bulgaria has a flat corporate tax rate of just 10%, one of the lowest in the European Union.
• EU Membership: Companies registered in Bulgaria enjoy full access to the EU single market.
• Affordable Setup and Running Costs: Registration is inexpensive, and the cost of living and labour is much lower than in Western Europe.
• Skilled Workforce: Bulgaria offers a highly skilled, multilingual workforce, especially in IT and technical fields, at competitive rates.
• Fast Registration: The process can be completed in as little as 1–3 weeks, and can often be handled remotely via power of attorney.

Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up a Bulgarian Company

Step 1: Choose the Right Business Structure

• Limited Liability Company (OOD/EOOD): Most popular for small and medium businesses. Offers limited liability and is suitable for single or multiple shareholders.
• Sole Proprietorship: Suitable for individual entrepreneurs, but it entails unlimited personal liability.
• Joint-Stock Company (AD): Suitable for larger businesses planning to raise capital.

Most Romanian entrepreneurs opt for an OOD (with multiple shareholders) or an EOOD (with a single shareholder).

Step 2: Select and Reserve Your Company Name

• The name must be unique and comply with Bulgarian naming conventions.
• Check availability via the Bulgarian Commercial Register.

Step 3: Prepare Incorporation Documents

• Articles of Association (for OOD/EOOD) or incorporation documents.
• Identification Documents for all shareholders and directors (passport/ID copies).
• Registered Address in Bulgaria (can be a virtual office).
• Proof of Paid-In Capital (minimum 2 BGN, about €1).
• Business Activity Description.

A local lawyer or incorporation specialist can prepare these documents in Bulgarian.

Step 4: Notarize Documents and Deposit Share Capital

• Sign the incorporation documents before a Bulgarian notary (can be done via power of attorney).
• Open an escrow account at a Bulgarian bank and deposit the minimum share capital.

Step 5: Register the Company with the Bulgarian Trade Register

• Submit all documents to the Trade Register (online or in-person).
• Registration is typically processed within 2–5 business days.

Step 6: Open a Corporate Bank Account

• Convert the escrow account to a regular business account.
• Provide company registration certificate, Articles of Association, and identification of authorized representatives.

Step 7: Register for Tax and VAT

• Register with the National Revenue Agency for corporate tax (10% flat rate).
• VAT registration is mandatory if annual turnover exceeds €25,600.
• Maintain proper accounting and submit annual financial reports.

Step 8: Set Up Accounting and Compliance

• Hire a local accountant for bookkeeping, payroll, and compliance with Bulgarian tax and labour laws.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with annual filings, social security contributions, and labour regulations.

Can You Set Up a Bulgarian Company Remotely?

Yes, the entire process can be handled remotely by granting power of attorney to a local lawyer or incorporation agent. This is especially convenient for Romanians who want to avoid frequent travel.

Costs of Setting Up and Running a Company in Bulgaria

• Company Registration: Typically ranges from €200 to €800, depending on legal and notary fees.
• Share Capital: Minimum 2 BGN (about €1).
• Virtual Office: Starting from €200/year.
• Accounting Services: From €50–€150/month, depending on volume and complexity.
• Bank Account Fees: Vary by bank; digital banks like Wise and Revolut are also available for non-residents.

Pros and Cons of Incorporating in Bulgaria

With Romania’s tax environment becoming less favourable, Bulgaria offers Romanian entrepreneurs a cost-effective, EU-compliant alternative for company formation. The process is streamlined, affordable, and can be completed remotely, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to optimize taxes and expand into the EU market.

Ready to take the next step? Consult a specialist in Bulgarian company formation to ensure a smooth and compliant setup.

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The decision was announced during a meeting of EU Interior Ministers in Brussels on December 12, 2024. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated that Romania and Bulgaria “fully belong in Schengen,” reinforcing both nations’ long-standing aspirations to be part of this vital European framework.

This comes after years of opposition from other EU states, including Austria and, earlier, the Netherlands, to Romania’s joining Schengen space.

Impact on Travel and Trade

With Romania’s accession to Schengen, border controls at land borders with neighbouring countries such as Bulgaria and Hungary will be eliminated. This change is expected to significantly reduce travellers’ waiting times and enhance the overall efficiency of cross-border movement. The integration into Schengen is anticipated to bring substantial economic benefits, including increased trade opportunities and reduced logistical costs for businesses operating in Romania.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu emphasized the positive implications for Romanian citizens, noting that this move will create new business opportunities and jobs. Eliminating border checks is expected to facilitate smoother travel for tourists and business travellers, enhancing Romania’s attractiveness as a destination.

A Step Towards Full Integration

Before this landmark decision, Romania had already taken steps toward Schengen integration by joining the area for air and maritime borders on March 31, 2024. This earlier phase allowed for removing controls at airports and seaports, setting the stage for the current full membership announcement.

The journey to Schengen membership has not been without challenges. Romania faced various political hurdles and concerns from some EU member states regarding its judicial system and border security. However, consistent reforms and a commitment to upholding EU standards have ultimately paved the way for this achievement.

Looking Ahead

As Romania prepares to embrace its new status within the Schengen Area, it is poised to reap enhanced connectivity and economic growth benefits. The government is focused on ensuring a smooth transition and adequately preparing infrastructure to handle increased traffic.
Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area represents a historic moment for the country and the European Union. It underscores the importance of unity and cooperation among member states while highlighting Romania’s commitment to its role within Europe.

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Black Sea states Romania, Turkiye, and Bulgaria met officials from Georgia, Poland and Ukraine in April 2022 to discuss clearing the mines after Russia invaded Ukraine. The mines were left floating near the Ukrainian harbours to prevent Russian navies from docking. Unfortunately, lots of them were left afloat, and now the mines endanger the marine transport in the Black Sea.

In August this year, such a Ukrainian mine exploded when hitting a dam in Costinesti, Romania. Fortunately, no casualties resulted in the incident, but other civilian vessels navigating the Black Sea didn’t have the same luck.

Speaking to reporters at a meeting in Ankara, Guler said the “Trilateral Initiative” would only include Romania, Turkiye, and Bulgaria for now, and their defence ministers planned to hold a signing ceremony in Istanbul on Jan. 11.

Due to the Ukraine-Russia war, there are mines placed in both Ukrainian and Russian ports. These untangle sometimes and reach our straits due to the current. Our mine-clearing vessels will carry out constant patrols to the point where Romania’s sea borders end.

Turkish Minister Yasar Guler on the ongoing operations of the Turkish Navy

There are no official statistics on the number of mines floating in the Black Sea, but experts say there could be tens of them. The mission the three countries assume in January will make the Black Sea navigation safer in the coming months.

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Precisely, Austrian politicians stated they could offer Romania entrance to Schengen with aerial borders. This is only a statement, not an official act, but it is the first time that Austria seems to concede anything to Romania.

The Schengen scandal involved Romania and Austria and started when the Austrian chancellor refused to accept Schengen’s enlargement. The refusal brought along criticism, not only from Romania but from other European countries. Also, Romanians started boycotting the Austrian companies and refused to buy Austrian products.

Romania had successfully checked all criteria to join the Schengen area as early as 2011. Still, specific countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria, systematically refused to adhere to Schengen. Some nuanced their position, but Austria opposed completely accepting Romania into the free economic area.

Bulgaria is in a similar situation, and Bulgarian politicians even suggested that the two countries create a “little Schengen area” between them.

What is wrong with Romania’s accession to Schengen with aerial borders?

Nothing, as the Romanian tourists will be able to avoid queues in airports when travelling to fellow Schengen member states. And everything, as this is only a bone tossed by Austria to Romania. Yet, Romanian politicians used to boost their popularity and assume this gesture’s success. One after another, left or right-wing, the Romanian politicians marched from TV studio to TV studio to show the bone tossed by Austrians and to take as much credit as possible.

Yet, the real problem with keeping Romania and Bulgaria outside Schengen is the freight cost on roads. Transporters suffer the most and lose around EUR 2 Billion yearly because of the time they lose at borders.

As long as Romania is outside Schengen, freight transport companies have lost 18-22% of their turnover. At the border with Hungary, they sometimes wait 10-12 hours in the column, which means a missed driving schedule, which is 9 hours. If a truck is stuck at the border, a driving program does not produce money; it only produces losses.

Adrian Pop, President of the Employers’ Association of Transporters “Europe 2002” in December 2022

So, what is to be done? Why is Romania accepting this bone? Politics is intricate and needs deep understanding, but Romania is undoubtedly negotiating with Austria and other countries for its Schengen access behind closed doors.

Land transport still has to wait, as far as the negotiations have gone, but the aerial accession is a first step towards the final goal.

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I think that immediately after the decision of the JAI Council last year, the unfair decision by which we were denied entry because of Austria and the Netherlands, the first person who came up with this scenario was my colleague MEP Marian-Jea Marinescu, who said that the two governments can very quickly notify the European Commission and abolish the borders between our states. I think it’s a fair measure that we have to apply immediately. I would go much further, proposing that Romania, Bulgaria and Greece abolish the borders between them because no one can limit this right; the Commission only needs to be notified. I believe this approach, which my colleagues from Bulgaria also support, must be implemented immediately.

Romanian MEP Eugen Tomac proposing Little Schengen Area

The rage against the Austrian companies continued in Romania after the Western state opposed Romania and Bulgaria’s admission to Schengen. Yet, citizens cannot do anything, but politicians can. Still, the current Government doesn’t seem to do a thing, apart from joint conferences with their Austrian counterparts, during which the Western diplomats mock Romanians and tell them that their country will stay much longer knock-knock-knocking at Schengen’s door.

It is clear that we are experiencing an abuse of power by the government in Vienna. in the EU, 25 governments say that Romania and Bulgaria deserve to be in Schengen; they meet the criteria, and the European Commission is the one that validates whether you meet the criteria or not and the Commission it also supports us in the process we opened at the CJEU. The commission supports this approach through an official note sent to the court, so from this point of view, I think it is essential to overcome this state of helplessness and act within the limits we can operate. This means abolishing the border with Bulgaria, and I would go much further, including Greece, because Romanians drive a lot on this route.

Romanian MEP Eugen Tomac

Romania and Bulgaria could abolish their state borders, but to include Greece in the equation is something else. Even so, the idea could show the European Union that the Eastern European countries, such as Poland or Hungary, do not tolerate this mockery from the bureaucrats in Brussels.

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As announced by Crisis24.com, The Bulgarian National Association of Grain Producers is leading protests at four border crossing points with Romania from March 29-31. The purpose of the action is to demand the government change rules around importing grain from Ukraine, which activists claim undercuts domestic producers. The targeted crossing points are Vidin, Ruse, Kardam, and Silistra; activists intend to use vehicles to block customs areas and adjacent roads.

The protests will result in significant disruptions at the targeted crossing points, including delays and possible suspension of traffic through border checkpoints. Authorities will deploy additional security forces to monitor the protests and may attempt to disperse protesters. The actions are likely to remain peaceful, though isolated clashes between activists and security services or with disgruntled road users are possible.

It’s not only Bulgarian farmers but also Romanian and Poland farmers who are unhappy with the decision to allow Ukrainian products to be exported to the European Union. The low prices and low quality make the Ukrainian grain flood the market instead of the higher quality but higher pricing Bulgarian, Poland and Romanian cereals.

Not only that, but the sums allocated to the three countries by the European Union to cover the costs of the losses are ridiculous: Poland will receive 30 million euros, Bulgaria will receive 16 million, and Romania will receive the least money, 10 million euros. Apparently, after Romanian farmers’ protests, the EU decided to increase the funds to Romania, but an official announcement from Brussels is yet to come.

In February, the Romanian farmers asked the European Union to impose controls at the border for Ukrainian grains, as they are exempt from such checking. This allows Ukrainian products with pesticides to enter the European market.

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The Romanian local publisher defapt.ro took over the investigation and showed that Romarm, Romania’s state-owned company and leading defence techniques and services supplier, bought rusty missiles from Belarus via Bulgaria and sent them to Ukraine.

After the Ukrainians discovered that they had been given outdated, rusted ammunition that could not be used in combat with Russian forces, the weaponry business for Ukraine — which had been maintained a secret by both the Romanian and the Bulgarian governments — was made public. The ammunition turned down was sent back to Romania and then to Bulgaria.

When asked by the Romanian journalists, the director of Romarm, Gabriel Tutu, didn’t admit this commercial procedure took place.

Since the beginning of the war between Ukraine and Russia, NATO countries have helped Ukraine with weapons to deal with the conflict. Although the authorities in Bucharest recently altered the law to permit them to give firearms, Romania and Bulgaria are among the few nations that have not formally acknowledged delivering weapons to the Ukrainian forces. According to official sources, Romania has donated only fuel, bulletproof vests, helmets and other military equipment valued at three million euros.

Asked about Romania’s munition donations, Romanian President Klaus Johannis only said that the fight is approaching Romania, and it is wise not to hand the adversary vital information.

After Bulgarian journalists from the Bivol portal published an investigation that proved that Bulgaria provided weaponry to Ukraine through the Romanian state company, owned by the Romanian Ministry of Economy, the secrecy of the authorities in Bucharest became worthless.

What exactly happened?

The missiles were shipped to Ukraine by Romarm. Bulgaria journalists estimated the ammo’s value at close to $200 million. In addition to 122, 130, and 152 mm shells, they mentioned that they are 122 mm rockets for the Grad systems.

One such case was exposed on Twitter by the Ukraine Weapons Tracker itself. According to Ukraine Weapons Tracker, Romanian arms may have been transferred to the Ukrainian army, which has tracked the development of both sides’ armaments from the start of the conflict. There are six howitzers in Romania, but they have all been out of service since 2005.

The so-called rockets worth USD 200 million were not mentioned by any of the Romanian or the Bulgarian governments as military aid for Ukraine.

The Romanian authorities have not yet commented on this delicate case. The problem, according to sources, was that the ammunition had as end users the Bulgarian company and the Bulgarian state. In such a context, the ammunition was not supposed to leave the Bulgarian territory, let alone be sent to a conflict area.

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In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the relationship between the Romanian and Bulgarian governments has strengthened to improve cooperation in the Balkan region.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov met with his Romanian colleague Nicolae Ciuca in Bucharest on April 29 to address this project and other bilateral and regional cooperation areas. Infrastructure projects and the energy problem were the topics of conversation between the two officials.

According to local media, Bulgaria proposed the development of a cooperative offshore wind farm in the Black Sea, near the northern coastal town of Shabla.

Danish and German investors with relevant project experience have already expressed interest in such a possible development. Still, the lack of a regulatory framework is now the most significant roadblock.

As reported by SeeNews, Bulgaria has an offshore wind potential of 116 GW, of which only roughly 26 GW can be produced at the moment. Europe has approximately 116 offshore wind farms installed across 12 nations, with most of the capacity in North Sea areas. More countries, notably Poland, Greece, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, are beginning to open their territorial seas to floating and fixed offshore wind farms.

The EU published a roadmap to enhance offshore renewable energy capacity in late 2020 to reach 60 GW by 2030 and 300 GW by 2050. The decision will go a long way toward assisting the bloc in weaning itself off Russian gas, especially now that Gazprom has stopped supplying Poland and Bulgaria.

WPD Offshore, a German renewables company, announced intentions to build two 1.9GW wind farms in Romanian Black Sea waters in February. Last month, WPD told Sofia-based media that it intends two 75-100 MW wind park projects near the Bulgarian town of Balchik on the Black Sea’s northern shore.

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The main topic of discussion was the severe security situation generated by the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and the fight against its multiple effects. The political figures discussed the importance of putting a Bulgaria-Greece gas interconnection into operation to reduce their dependence on Russian gas supplies.

In the context of excluding Russia from the EU commerce and the increasing need of Romania to reduce the energy reliance on the Russian Federation, the Romanian President and Bulgarian President highlighted in a press conference the importance of energy diversification and transport routes.

Also, the Romanian President mentioned the critical need for the Bulgaria-Greece interconnector operationalization that, once completed, will be able to connect the BRUA gas pipeline to make the Vertical Gas Corridor operational. BRUA is a project for a pipeline linking the gas transmission systems of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria.

Klaus Johannis added he also talked about the need to have the interconnector functioning as soon as possible with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his visit to Romania. There are promises that by the end of this year, the interconnector will be functional.

On the other hand, we are working on other alternative gas supply routes and we are in advanced negotiations with several sources. It is clear that by the beginning of the winter of 2022 and 2023 we must have viable alternatives that provide us with gas for the coming winter.

Klaus Johannes, Romanian President

Last week, Bulgarian media quoted a senior official at ICGB (Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria), the company developing the gas connection, saying that the start of the interconnection between Greece and Bulgaria could start to be delayed until autumn. ICGB still aims to have the interconnector operational by July 1, 2022. Still, that deadline is a huge challenge, the official said, adding that there is also a lot of market pressure to get the gas connection operational.

A new Greek gas trading platform will operate on March 21, improving connectivity and security of supply in the region amid turbulent global markets. The new Greek trading platform will join Bulgaria’s Balkan Gas Hub and Bulgarian Energy Trading Platform, and Romania’s three energy trading platforms, namely BRM, OPCOM and Tradex.

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