Sofia Globe: EC to play bigger role in South Stream talks – minister

The European Commission could play a more prominent role in talks between EU member states and Russia concerning the South Stream gas pipeline, it emerged on December 12, but the extent of its involvement remains unclear.

Bulgaria’s Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev said on December 12 that the Commission would take a lead role in negotiations with Russia, meant to ensure that the bilateral agreements signed by five EU member states and Serbia did not breach EU law. The announcement came after ministers from the six countries met with European energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger in Brussels.

Later in the day, however, Oettinger said that the EC would act as “an advocate” for the six countries once it receives the required mandate from their governments. The six countries are Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia.

Oettinger’s spokesperson, Marlene Holzner, was quoted by Bulgarian media as saying that the countries and the EC agreed to work together to iron out the details of the common approach at an expert level.

Earlier, Stoynev said that Oettinger would, for all intents and purposes, represent the six countries during the talks with Russia. He said he was confident that the pipeline would be built and Bulgaria had no plan to give up on the project because it could create thousands of jobs and help economic growth.  MORE