Europe is either at or close to the turning point in its Ukraine-crisis-motivated strive to add another vector to its energy security.

The Southern Gas Corridor is of strategic importance for the EU and especially for Bulgaria and South East Europe, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev told reporters April 28 in the lobby of the 3rd Baku Global Shared Societies Forum in Baku.

Azerbaijan plays an important role as the first supplier of the Caspian gas to the EU market, analyst at "Eurasia Energy Observer" Andrej Tibold told Trend on ‘This week in focus’ episode. “The Southern Gas Corridor has become a priority project in the European Union,” he said. “There are several reasons for that.”

Azerbaijan is rapidly turning into a major player in the world energy industry. It has proved itself to be a reliable oil supplier; and now the country is on its way to gain the same status in the world gas industry.

A new pipeline which will transport gas from the Caspian region will ensure supplies to Europe in the long term prospect, the international service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation swissinfo.ch reported with the reference to the spokesperson for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy Marianne Zünd.