Today, Friday, July 10, an expanded technical meeting of Natural Gas Transmission System Operators is underway in Athens in hybrid format. The gathering focuses on the Vertical Corridor, a key infrastructure initiative designed to create a unified natural gas transport route from Greece to markets in Southeast and Central Europe.
This development aligns with the European Union’s accelerated efforts to phase out Russian natural gas imports by the end of 2027. Discussions center on technical coordination, network interoperability, and preparations to handle increased flows of non-Russian gas, particularly LNG entering through Greek terminals.
The meeting brings together operators from Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Ukraine. The addition of Slovakia and Hungary for the first time extends the corridor westward, and sources indicate that one additional country may soon join the process.
This broadening transforms the Vertical Corridor from a primarily Southeast European project into a larger energy axis stretching from Greek LNG entry points all the way to Central European markets. It builds on existing interconnected systems that already enable gas flows from Greece to Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine, while enhancing its reach into the Western Balkans and beyond.
Greece as primary hub for Liquefied Natural Gas
Following earlier high-level political support, the operators are now concentrating on practical implementation. The agenda includes assessing available capacity in existing networks, evaluating operating pressure requirements, identifying needs for new compression stations, and planning targeted upgrades to pipelines and interconnections where necessary.
Sources familiar with the talks note that the core infrastructure is largely already in place, which limits the need for extensive new construction. Emphasis is instead placed on optimization, improved interoperability, and better coordinated operations across borders. The ultimate goal is to develop a joint implementation plan that outlines required interventions in each participating country along with a realistic timeline.
Today’s meeting launches a series of technical consultations that will continue over the coming months. If technical agreements are reached, the operators plan to sign a common Memorandum of Cooperation in September, potentially timed to coincide with the Thessaloniki International Fair.
This memorandum will formalize collaboration among the Transmission System Operators and establish the framework needed to transform the Vertical Corridor into a fully integrated, cross-border natural gas transport system.
Serbia’s active participation carries particular weight. Although not bound by EU decisions to phase out Russian gas, Belgrade is actively seeking alternative supplies via the Greek corridor. This engagement strengthens the project’s overall momentum, especially given Serbia’s connections to Western Balkan networks.
Greece’s Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou highlighted the project’s progress at a recent Economist conference. He emphasized that coordination between operators, supported by government backing, is essential for creating a functional and commercially viable initiative.
Papastavrou described today’s technical meeting as another important step in the project’s maturation, especially as the European Union advances new regulations for full energy independence from Russia.
He noted that the primary challenge is ensuring a smooth transition to the new energy landscape without compromising supply security, positioning the Vertical Corridor as one of the most critical assets for Southeast Europe’s energy resilience.
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