European Commission asks Bulgaria to suspend work on South Stream

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The European Commission asked the Bulgarian government to suspend work on Gazprom's South Stream gas pipeline pending a decision on its conforming with EU law, a Commission spokeswoman said.

"Whilst discussions with the Bulgarian authorities are taking place, and until there is full compliance with EU law, we have also asked the Bulgarian authorities to suspend the project," the spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/06/03/uk-eu-southstream-bulgaria-idUKKBN0EE0PA20140603

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EU demands that Bulgaria suspend South Stream works.

SOFIA, June 03. /ITAR-TASS/. The European Commission has demanded that the Bulgarian government freeze laying the Russia-led South Stream pipeline until this Gazprom’s project meets European legislation, the Bulgarian national television company reported late on Monday, citing Chantal Hughes, spokeswoman for European Commissioner.

Under the EU third energy package, a gas producer is not allowed to control operators of a pipeline it pumps gas through.

The European Commission has asked Sofia to disclose all details of the planned South Stream construction within a month.

The EU is also worried by the fact that a tender to choose the company to lay the pipeline was conducted with violations of the antitrust rules, Hughes said.

http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/734453

Barroso warns Bulgaria on South Stream.

Speaking after the EU summit held yesterday (27 May), Commission President José Manuel Barroso made it plain that the EU executive would impose infringements on Bulgaria regarding the Gazprom-favoured South Stream pipeline, the construction of which is about to begin in breach with EU laws.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski met bilaterally with Barroso yesterday and assured him that the South Stream pipeline will be build according to EU law.

But as the two were meeting, it also became known that a Russian firm, who's owner is under US sanctions will build the Bulgarian stretch of the pipeline.

Russian Stroytransgaz consortium will build the Gazprom-favoured South Stream gas pipeline, the Bulgarian daily Capital revealed yesterday.

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/barroso-warns-bulgaria-south-stream-302467

Oettinger: EU help in resolving South Stream’s legal problems is conditional.

EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said the Commission-mediated talks to solve legal issues over the Gazprom-favoured South Stream gas pipeline could continue only if Russia adheres to international law in the context of the Ukraine crisis.

In an interview with the Frankfurt Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, he said that the discussion had come to a standstill because Russia did not want to accept EU energy legislation and because the crisis in Ukraine had eclipsed everything.

"We will continue the talks if the Russian partners go back to adhering to international legal practice and if they are ready for constructive cooperation on the basis of our energy law" Oettinger said.

He made clear that contentious issues had been discussed on a working level.

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/oettinger-eu-help-resolving-south-streams-legal-problems-conditional-302527