Energy Minister: No EU Court of Justice for Bulgaria Yet

Energy and Economy Minister Delyan Dobrev remains optimistic about the outcome of the EC infringement proceedings against Bulgaria. Photo by BGNES

Energy and Economy Minister Delyan Dobrev said in Parliament Tuesday that the European Commission was expected to refer Bulgaria's failure to implement energy liberalization legislation to the Court of Justice.

Dobrev added, however, that the trial was not likely to start in the next month or two.

His statement came in response to an alert by Meglena Kuneva, former EU Commissioner and leader of the "Bulgaria for Citizens" civil movement, that Bulgaria was facing financial penalties over the breach of the energy market liberalization directive.

Dobrev explained that no lawsuit had yet been opened against Bulgaria but the infringement proceedings had already started.

The Energy Minister said that the obstructions to the implementation of the EU regulations had been a set of confidentiality clauses in the gas transit contracts.

He added that Gazprom had given its permission for disclosure in end-2011 and the papers had been filed to the EC in early 2012.

Dobrev noted that talks had already been opened on how to change the problematic clauses.

He expressed certainty that Bulgaria would manage to remedy its failure to implement the EC requirements within the given deadline.

The Energy Minister explained that if a lawsuit against Bulgaria was eventually opened, the proceedings would drag on for years before a decision could be reached on the penalties.

Dobrev refused to commit to a forecast about a reduction in electricity and central heating tariffs for consumers as a result of the newly negotiated discount from Gazprom.

He said that it was up to the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) to make such decisions.

Dobrev assured, however, that the energy watchdog would take into account the cheaper Russian gas in its price setting procedures.

One week before the discount was agreed, Bulgargaz CEO Dimitar Gogov argued that a reduction in prices of natural gas would make no difference for Bulgarian consumers and would not become tangible before the next pricing period.

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