/ world today news/ The intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline from 2008 does not grant exclusive rights, concession or public order to South Stream Bulgaria AD to design, finance, build and operate the gas pipeline, which will be owned by the company.
This is stated in the position of the Bulgarian government sent to the European Commission. The draft position was considered by the European Affairs Council of the Council of Ministers on 23 June 2014.
It also states that “the creation of the company by decision of the Court of Justice in 2010 is in accordance with domestic legislation and does not violate provisions of Community legislation. With regard to the contracts awarded by the company, the principles of non-discrimination, equal treatment and transparency and the rules applied by the company correspond to these principles”.
In a letter dated June 3, 2014, the EC raises three issues on which it expresses concerns about a possible violation of EU legislation, namely: the designation of “South Stream Bulgaria” AD as the designer, operator and owner of the pipeline, the competence of Bulgaria to conclude the intergovernmental agreement with Russia, related to the project, and public contracts awarded by “South Stream Bulgaria”. The official notification letter is the first stage of the pre-trial phase in the procedure for violation of EU legislation, and Bulgaria has been given a period of one month to present its views on the outlined issues.
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