Bulgarien befürchtet neue winterliche Gaskrise [en]

Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Roumiana Jeleva said not a single euro had been received from the European Commission towards sums allocated last summer for two gas interconnectors, designed to reduce the country's dependence on Russian gas supplies. 

The interconnectors are part of a "recovery plan" launched by Commission President José Manuel Barroso before his re-election. One such interconnector links the country with a pipeline in Greece and another one with the Romanian network. 

"We have a problem with our interconnectors. We will press with the Commission. We cannot just forego this money," the minister said. 

Jeleva, who is Bulgaria's official candidate to become the country's next European commissioner, denied that the delays were a result of foot-dragging in Sofia and described the projects as a top priority for the country. The protracted procedures, she added, concerned all beneficiary countries, not only Bulgaria. 

Jeleva admitted that even if the money were distributed, the country would still need between eight to ten years to protect itself from a crisis similar to the one which left part of Europe without supplies during the first three weeks of January 2009. 

In this context, she expressed hope that EU-Russia relations would be strengthened by a summit in Stockholm today. She also said the recently agreed alert mechanism on gas disruptions was a step in the right direction (EurActiv 16/11/09). However, she said that the alert mechanism could not palliate missing supplies in the event of a crisis. 

"Russia is always cooperative when gas prices are high. But when prices go down, they [...] harden their positions," Jeleva said. 

The minister added that she wanted to be "fair with Bulgarian citizens" and warn them that in spite of efforts made to prevent a new gas crisis, uncertainties remained. 

Asked when Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov would answer a question from Russian colleague Vladimir Putin about his cabinet's plans for major energy infrastructure projects, including the South Stream gas pipeline, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and Belene nuclear power plant, she said a statement should be expected in early December. 

Conflicting information has emerged over the new Bulgarian government's plans to pursue energy projects with Russian participation (EurActiv 14/07/09). Meeting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Poland recently on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War, Borissov told his counterpart that he needed a few months to study the projects and make a decision (EurActiv 11/09/09). 

Asked by EurActiv if the forthcoming presidential elections in Ukraine, due on 17 January 2010, could further complicate the country's relations with Russia and lead to gas disruptions, the minister said this was one of the factors to watch. 

"There are indeed some question marks relative to the forthcoming elections," Bulgarian Ambassador to the EU Boyko Kotsev added. He explained that a new gas crisis was not "imminent" but "still a possibility". 

Presidential elections in Ukraine are a major issue for Russia. Incumbent president Viktor Yushchenko is loathed by the Kremlin, while other leading candidates, such as Viktor Yanukovich, leader of the pro-Russian Party of Regions, benefit from Moscow's support. According to diplomats, in order to mobilise their electorate, many players could play the "gas card" in one way or another, provoking another gas supply disruption. 

A Commission spokesperson told EurActiv that the delay in payments under projects covered by the recovery plan was "normal". In fact, the procedures are well on track, with the call for proposals published on 19 May. An evaluation committee gave a positive opinion on 16 October, while scrutiny by the European Parliament is taking place now, the spokesperson added. The first batch of grant agreements is expected to be signed in December, the Commission representative added.