President: EU Fine with Russian Funding for New Bulgarian NPP

During his visit to Brussels, Bulgaria's President, Georgi Parvanov (l), was accepted by the King of Belgium, Albert II. Photo by BGNES

Energy projects were the main topic during the first visit in three years of Bulgaria's President, Georgi Parvanov, to Brussels.

The President told the EU Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, that Bulgaria must be part of the effort for more guarantees for the energy security of Europe.

The two also discussed the future of the construction of the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in the Danube town of Belene and Parvanov pointed out the NPP must become an European project with investors from Germany and France.

The Bulgarian President said Oettinger had not expressed alarm over the Russian financing for the Belene NPP as last week Bulgaria asked the Russian state-owned company Rosatom for an EUR 2 B loan for the project.  

He stood firm behind the Russian gas line “South Stream,” saying it offers more and more diversified routes for gas supply.

During the first day of his visit Parvanov further had talks with the Climate Action Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, and the Bulgarian Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva.

Parvanov commented that three years ago he saw more enthusiasm, and higher expectations, but the assessment in Brussels now is more realistic.

“I am here not to occupy the EU with our problems, but the discuss the common ones,” the President is quoted as saying when defining the main goal of his trip.

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