Belgrade, 1 October 2022 (MIA) — Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the commissioning ceremony of the Bulgaria – Greece gas interconnector said the pipeline was also important for Serbia and asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to include the Western Balkans in the European Union’s energy plans. According to MIA’s Belgrade correspondent, Vucic said Serbia had started the construction of a gas interconnector with Bulgaria on its territory and that the two countries would complete the project in one year. The new pipelines with Bulgaria and North Macedonia meant a lot for Serbia, he said, adding that the projects would never have been possible without the EU’s help. “I believe we will have a difficult winter,” Vucic said. “Even more difficult than President Von der Leyen said earlier." “I had a dilemma before coming here how she would treat me, but she was very polite and kind. I feel a bit like a ‘black sheep’ here in the company of friends and I have to thank her, although I don't want to flatter her. "She helped us a lot regarding the construction of the pipeline between Serbia and Bulgaria and in planning the construction of an interconnector between North Macedonia and Serbia,“ Serbia's President said. Those goals would not have been achieved without the infrastructure and support from the EU, he added. Vucic also asked the EC President to include the countries of the Western Balkans in the EU’s energy pricing plans. “Dear Ursula, do not listen 100% to my friend Kyriakos Mitsotakis and do not repeat 100% the measures of the era of fighting against Covid,” he said. “We are grateful for your support, but when we talk about money, we cannot absorb these energy prices. Please put the Western Balkan countries on the list along with the others from the EU. “I know that my friend Mitsotakis will agree to put our Western Balkan countries on the same list as the EU countries when it comes to prices, and we will be extremely grateful to you,” he added. Vucic also thanked Azerbaijan for helping to diversify natural gas supply. The Greece – Bulgaria interconnector started operations on Saturday with the aim of boosting Europe's energy independence from Russia. The 182-kilometer-long interconnector links Bulgaria to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, which routes natural gas from Azerbaijan via Turkey to Greece and on to Italy. The new pipeline stretches from Greece’s northern town of Komotini to Stara Zagora in central Bulgaria. mr/