Hungary has invited Bulgaria to join the project for connecting the power grids of central European countries.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev, Hungary's President Janos Ader said that the connection of the energy grids of Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland, could be extended to the southeast by including Bulgaria.

Plevneliev, as cited by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), assured that Bulgaria accepted the invitation to cooperate in the energy grid expansion project.

Bulgaria's head of state commented that he considered energy diversification projects a strategic priority.

Plevneliev emphasized that Bulgaria was taking steps to plan a gas grid interconnection with Serbia, while the construction of the gas link with Romania was already underway.

Bulgaria and Hungary stated their mutual support for the implementation of the Nabucco and South Stream gas pipeline projects.

Plevneliev said that Bulgaria backed the efforts of the EU for energy market liberalization but admitted that the country had allowed delays in the preparation and adoption of secondary legislation related to the Third Energy Liberalization Package, which had become one of the reasons for the problems with high prices of central heating and electricity.

He assured that Bulgaria was doing its best to make up for delays in the sphere of energy diversification, adding that a set of legal amendments was being drafted which would enter into force within two months during the term in office of the 42nd National Assembly.

Plevneliev and Ader  also exchanged views on cooperation on the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, the extension of the Danube Bike Trail to Bulgaria, the improvement of navigation conditions, and the maintenance of water quality at the highest possible level.