Borisov, Cameron See Eye to Eye on Pipelines, EU Fiscal Discipline

British Prime Minister David Cameron (R) meets with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov (L) at N.10 Downing street in London, Britain, 07 August 2012. EPA/BGNES

Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov and UK PM David Cameron have declared their desire for stricter fiscal discipline in the EU after a meeting in London.

Borisov and Cameron met late Tuesday night for talks that focused mostly on security concerns after the July 18 terrorist attack in Bulgaria's Burgas but mentioned other topics as well.

"Mr. Borisov and I are working very closely within the EU for free markets, strict fiscal discipline, and trade with non-EU partners," Cameron told reporters after the meeting, as cited by the Bulgarian government press service.

"We see eye to eye in many spheres and we are embracing joint policies in the EU, especially with respect to fiscal discipline and security," Borisov has added, thanking Cameron for his backing for the adoption of the latest Bulgarian legislation authorizing seizure of illegally acquired assets.

According to the Bulgarian PM, he and Cameron discussed the "future of key projects that are supposed to provide diversification of natural gas supplies to Europe".

The Bulgarian government press service has added that a day earlier Cameron discussed the same projects with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, as Azerbaijan is expected to become a major supplier of natural gas for Europe.

"British Petroleum are willing to work on the Nabucco West project if it is economically efficient," the Bulgarian PM is quoted as saying after his meeting with the UK PM, referring to the new downsized version of the Nabucco gas transit pipeline.

"We are working actively on South Stream. We should have a joint company in October, and Davide and I have agreed together with EC President Barroso to discuss the Nabucco topic at the next EU Council summit – if it will happen, and if this Caspian gas connection is possible," Borisov stated, referring to the upcoming formation of a joint venture between Bulgaria's state-owned Bulgargaz and Russia's Gazprom for the Bulgarian section of the Russian-sponsored South Stream gas pipeline.

The Bulgarian PM added that Bulgaria deems crucial a project that will bring natural gas to the Bulgarian border. He mentioned the recent visit of Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Delyan Dobrev to Turkey to discuss the Bulgaria-Turkey gas interconnection that is to be constructed by the Bulgarian state and private Turkish companies.

"Thus, natural gas from Qatar can come to Turkey, and then to Bulgaria, and this way we can have actual diversification," Borisov said.

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