Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Borchardt is one of Europe's most experienced energy law and policy experts, having spent 33 years at the European Commission. His career there spanned multiple roles, including 12 years in the Commission's Legal Service and ultimately serving as Deputy Director-General for Energy. He holds a law degree from the University of Hamburg and a PhD from the Free University of Berlin, and has held academic positions at the University of Würzburg, Copenhagen Business School, and the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.
The European Commission appointed him as European Coordinator for the Central and South-East European Energy Connectivity (CESEC), with a mandate to strengthen regional interconnectivity, promote a regulatory framework ensuring market integration and efficient use of infrastructure, and oversee Projects of Common Interest under the TEN-E Regulation, all while ensuring alignment with EU rules and addressing the region's particular challenges, including its proximity to Ukraine and Moldova and past dependence on Russian energy imports.
In his active role as Coordinator, Borchardt has been engaging directly with national governments on critical infrastructure. In March 2026, he met with Bulgarian officials to discuss the Vertical Gas Corridor, a project expected to increase transit capacity by around 50%, span seven countries, and deliver potential volumes of approximately 10 billion cubic metres annually. He was reported to have been persuaded of the need to renew its three main routes connecting Greece, Ukraine, and the Southern Gas Corridor.