http___www.ipress.hr_gospodarstvo_bugarska-obustavila-pripreme-izgradnje-juznog-toka-32805.html_1.xml
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Bulgarian officials say the construction of the Russian-led South Stream gas pipeline does not breach EU legislation. The European Commission is concerned the agreement between Russia and Bulgaria violates EU competition law, RT reports. The Bulgarian government stood by its position on the legality of the pipeline in a Wednesday statement, ITAR-TASS reports. The agreement on South Stream construction signed in 2008 did not provide any exclusive rights, concessions, or tendering for the South Stream Bulgaria Company which is the owner of the pipeline, and therefore it does not violate EU law, it said. "With its position the government presents arguments and motives in support of the decisions the Bulgarian nation has taken and which were the subject of concern at the EU Commission," Reuters quotes the official statement. Bulgaria will put these arguments at the Brussels summit on Friday, but the decision of the commission whether to accept or reject them may end up in full infringement proceedings and possible fines against Sofia, Reuters says. According to Gunther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for Energy, the construction process should be suspended until, "it completely corresponds to the requirements of the European Union". On Tuesday Austria, another strong defender of the pipeline, signed a deal to construct a South Stream branch on its territory, thus showing its firm commitment. The 2,446 km South Stream pipeline will stretch across southern and central Europe via the Black Sea, bypassing Ukraine and reducing the country's importance as a gas transit route. 64 billion cubic meters of gas will be transported annually. Gazprom has said the project, estimated to cost $45 billion, can be completed without any funding from international partners. Source: RT
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Sofija je obustavila pripreme gradnje rusko-talijanskog plinovoda Južni tok, koja je trebala početi ovog ljeta u Bugarskoj, nakon kritika Bruxellesa i Washingtona, objavio je u nedjelju premijer Plamen Orešarski. "Naredio sam prekid radova na pokretanju izgradnje Južnog toka. Odluku ćemo donijeti nakon savjetovanja s Bruxellesom", rekao je Orešarski nakon susreta s američkim senatorima. Europska komisija je tražila u utorak od Sofije da prekine gradnju plinovoda Južni tok na svom teritoriju objasnivši da Bugarska ne poštuje europska pravila za javne natječaje. Komisija je uputila pismo upozorenja bugarskim vlastima, što je prva etapa procedure poništenja. Stručnjaci Bruxellesa će sljedećeg tjedna otputovati u Sofiju na razgovore s vladom. Američki republikanski senator John McCain je izjavio u nedjelju da Sjedinjene Države "podržavaju napore bugarske vlade u postizanju energetske neovisnosti. U pogledu plinovoda južni tok, on je rekao da želi da ga izvedu ruske neovisne organizacije. Konzorcij koji vodi ruska tvrtka Strojtransgaz je izabrana 27. svibnja za gradnju bugarske dionice Južnog toka, što je izazvalo oštru američku reakciju. U petak je američka veleposlanica Marcie Ries izrazila zabrinutost nedavnom bugarskom odlukom dodjele ugovora za gradnju plinovoda Strojtransgazu. Bugarska gotovo potpuno ovisi o ruskim isporukama plina preko Ukrajine.