A coalition of the United States and several Balkan and Central and Eastern European countries has agreed on a coordinated effort to facilitate the flow of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the region, following high-level discussions in Washington.
The initiative emerged from the Transatlantic Gas Security Summit, which gathered representatives from 22 countries stretching from Albania to Poland.
Thirteen Governments endorsed a joint declaration committing to reforms aimed at strengthening gas market resilience, improving transparency, and reducing regulatory barriers that complicate imports and infrastructure development. Participants included Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, Ukraine, Croatia, Lithuania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the United States. The signatories pledged to harmonize gas trading platforms, streamline tariff frameworks, and eliminate rules that hinder the construction of new infrastructure or undermine long-term supply stability.
The declaration also highlighted the importance of mobilizing both public and private financing, including export credit agencies and multilateral lenders, to support secure and affordable gas supplies across the region.
While the broader strategy encompasses multiple entry points for US LNG, a central focus remains the so-called Vertical Corridor, a route designed to transport LNG delivered to Greece northward through the Balkans and Eastern Europe toward Ukraine, which would initially rely on existing pipeline infrastructure originally built to carry Russian gas southward. However, elevated transit fees and infrastructure bottlenecks remain key challenges.
In parallel with the political declaration, six memoranda of understanding were concluded during the summit. Atlantic SEE LNG Trade, a joint venture between Aktor and DEPA, signed agreements with Naftogaz, Bulgargaz, Aluminij Industries, M.T. Abraham Group in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Albanian Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy. Separate agreements were reached between Metlen and Shell, covering 0.5 to 1 billion cubic meters of LNG annually over a five-year period starting in 2027, and between Swiss-based MET Group and Shell.
Despite the momentum, officials acknowledged that the Vertical Corridor still faces technical and regulatory obstacles. A dedicated working group met with ministers from Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine, alongside representatives from the US and the European Union, to address outstanding issues. Further technical consultations are planned, as stakeholders work to translate the political commitments into operational infrastructure capable of reshaping gas supply patterns in Central and Eastern Europe.
