FOCUS: Bulgaria to issue needed permits over South Stream project: PM

"Bulgaria will issue the required permits over the South Stream [gas pipeline] project and continue the preparation activities related to the realisation of the project. I introduced my colleagues to the problems we have with energy projects, with the extension of the life of Kozloduy NPP 5th and 6th units, with the [cases] at the Court of Arbitration in Paris. And I what I have always said and I have said it again is that simply Bulgaria’s isolation in the EU did not provide a chance to our colleagues to become acquainted with the problems concerning the South Stream project," said Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, speaking in Brussels, where he is attending a European Council sitting.

"[People] understood in practice we have an inter-governmental agreement approved by the Bulgarian Parliament, we face infringement procedures on the part of the European Commission (EC) as they did not properly organise the tenders. So, as Mr Juncker [Jean-Claude Juncker, EC President] said a few days ago, Bulgaria will have to do the preparatory activity, especially as regards the maritime part, so that the Russian side has no grounds to say it is suspending the project and the blame lies with Bulgaria.
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