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South Stream gas pipeline

EU demands that Bulgaria suspend South Stream works

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

© ITAR-TASS/Ruslan Shamukov

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Greece shows interest in building South Stream section in its territory

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.

The South Stream pipeline was designed to carry Russian gas to the EU bypassing Ukraine. Gas will be pumped to the Bulgaria’s Black Sea port of Varna before extending overland through Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia to supply gas to the Western Europe via Italy and Austria. The pipeline’s capacity amounts to 63 billion cubic meters.

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Oil & Gas South Stream Bulgaria European Commission

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