The European Commission has launched an EU Pilot procedure against Bulgaria over
amendments to the Energy Act relating to the South Stream gas pipeline, local
media reported on Monday.
The procedure does not involve sanctions,
instead its outcome will determine potential future measures on the part of the
Commission, public radio broadcaster BNR said, quoting Sabine Berger, the
spokesperson of EU energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger. Berger pointed out
that the Commission cannot disclose details at this stage of the
procedure.
In April, the Bulgarian parliament adopted in principle a bill
aiming to exclude the Bulgarian offshore section of the planned South Stream gas
pipeline from the scope of the EU's Third Energy Package, which regulates
third-party access to gas transport infrastructure in the EU. Under the adopted
bill, the 24-kilometre Bulgarian offshore section of the South Stream project
would be regarded as a “sea gas pipeline” and would have the legal status of a
facility which does not step onto EU territory.
EU Pilot aims at
improving the cooperation between member states and the Commission regarding the
conformity of national law with EU law or the correct application of EU law. EU
Pilot is used as a first step to try to clarify or resolve problems, so that, if
possible, formal infringement proceedings can be avoided.