Barroso warns Bulgaria on South Stream / Oettinger: EU help in resolving South Stream’s legal problems is conditional

Series Title
Series Details 28.05.14
Publication Date 28/05/2014
Content Type

Speaking after the EU summit held on the 27 May 2014, 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.

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

It was announced on the 3 June 2014 that the European Commission had asked the Bulgarian government to suspend work on Gazprom's South Stream gas pipeline, pending a decision on its conforming with EU law. But the Bulgarian Socialist Party, which is the senior partner in the country’s minority government, was quick to reply that its construction will continue as planned.

However, BBC News reported on the 8 June 2014 that Bulgaria was to halt work on South Stream gas pipeline following criticism from the EU and US. There were also divisions within the coalition government in Bulgaria, which might make it resign.

Bulgarian officials told Russia’s visiting foreign minister in July 2014 that Sofia was committed to building its section of the South Stream pipeline despite the suspension of work due to EU complaints.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/barroso-warns-bulgaria-south-stream-302467
Related Links
ESO: Background information: In the Kremlin's Grip: Fears Grow Over Bulgaria's Russian Dependence http://www.europeansources.info/record/in-the-kremlins-grip-fears-grow-over-bulgarias-russian-dependence/
ESO: Background information: Informal dinner of Heads of State or Government, Brussels, 27 June 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/informal-dinner-of-heads-of-state-or-government-brussels-27-may-2014/
EurActiv, 02.06.14: Oettinger: EU help in resolving South Stream’s legal problems is conditional http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/oettinger-eu-help-resolving-south-streams-legal-problems-conditional-302527
EUObserver, 03.06.14: EU commission scales up rhetoric against Russian gas pipeline http://euobserver.com/foreign/124454
EurActiv, 03.06.14: Bulgaria to build South Steam despite Commission warnings http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/bulgaria-build-south-steam-despite-commission-warnings-302572
BBC News, 08.06.14: Bulgaria halts work on gas pipeline after US talks http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27755032
Website: South Stream http://www.south-stream.info/en/
Wikipedia: South Stream http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Stream
Gazprom: Production: Projects: Gazprom http://www.gazprom.com/about/production/projects/pipelines/south-stream/
Natural Gas Europe: Tag: South Stream Pipeline http://www.naturalgaseurope.com/category/pipelines/south-stream-pipeline
EurActiv, 05.06.14: South Stream project threatens to bring down Bulgarian government http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/south-stream-project-threatens-bring-down-bulgarian-government-302623
Euronews, 09.06.14: Bulgaria to stop work on South Stream pipeline due to EU concerns http://www.euronews.com/2014/06/09/bulgaria-to-stop-work-on-south-stream-pipeline-due-to-eu-concerns/
Balkan Insight, 09.06.14: Bulgaria Halts Russian Gas Pipeline Construction http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-halts-south-stream-construction
EurActiv, 10.06.14: Renzi leads belated effort in support of South Stream http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/renzi-leads-belated-effort-support-south-stream-302684
EUObserver, 09.06.14: Bulgaria freezes work on South Stream pipeline http://euobserver.com/foreign/124527
BBC News, 09.06.14: EU-Moscow row over South Stream gas pipeline http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27767345
EurActiv, 10.06.14: Bulgaria’s government to collapse over South Stream http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/bulgarias-government-collapse-over-south-stream-302702
Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 13.06.14: Bulgaria’s decision to suspend work on the South Stream pipeline is likely to increase the EU’s leverage in negotiations with Russia over Ukraine http://bit.ly/1lrSadU
Balkan Insight, 07.07.14: Bulgaria Vows to Build Russian Gas Pipeline http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-vows-to-build-russian-gas-pipeline

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