Focus: Pressure on Bulgaria over Belene NPP linked to South Stream, says expert

“The increased pressure on Bulgaria over the Belene NPP is an indirect pressure for the South Stream gas pipeline project,” said energy expert Professor Atanas Tasev in a commentary for FOCUS News Agency.

“At the moment Russia is conducting a PR action in the frames of the crisis PM, because the European Commission (EC) launched a probe into Gazprom’s alleged violation of antitrust laws. Russia is not a member of the European Union (EU) but it is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), it has joint companies, which work on the territory of Europe, and this undermines the authority and poses a possible risk for Gazprom even if not sanctioned. This is also an indirect pressure for making a decision on the passing of South Stream gas pipeline through the territory of Bulgaria,” Professor Tasev remarked.

According to Tasev, there will not be an arbitration procedure.  MORE