site.btaParliament Requires Energy Minister to Protect National Interests in EC Case against Bulgaria

Sofia, November 24 (BTA) - The National Assembly on Friday required the Minister of Energy to take all necessary measures to protect the national interests in a case in which the European Commission suspects the Bulgarian Energy Holding and its subsidiaries Bulgargaz and Bulgartransgaz of abusing their dominant position on the domestic gas market. The competent Deputy Minister of Energy was tasked with controlling the implementation of this resolution.

In the case in question, the European Commission suspects that the Bulgarian Energy Holding, Bulgargaz and Bulgartransgaz may have violated the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union by hindering competitors' access to key gas infrastructures in Bulgaria.

The news about Friday's parliamentary resolution was unveiled by Socialist MP Tasko Ermenkov, who is Deputy Chair of the Energy Committee. The resolution was adopted at a closed-door sitting of the National Assembly held on a proposal by Ermenkov and the Socialists' Deputy Floor Leader Zhelyo Boichev.

"We refused to admit guilt, so no damages will ensue," Ermenkov told journalists in the Parliament lobby. He noted that all 179 MPs present at the closed-door sitting voted in favour of the resolution. "This proves that when there is a political will and when the interests of the state come first, consensus can be reached. We are protecting our national interests, we are protecting our sovereignty, and we are trying to bring benefit for the state."

Ermenkov also said: "Until a final judgment is made, Bulgaria has ways to prevent unnecessary spending of financial resources."