site.btaEC Vice President Georgieva: South Stream Is not the Only Chance and Only Problem of Bulgaria

EC Vice President Georgieva: South Stream Is not the Only Chance and Only Problem of Bulgaria


Brussels, January 23 (BTA correspondent Nickolay Jeliazkov) -
European Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva believes
that the South Stream gas pipeline project is not the only
chance for Bulgaria - or its only problem. Georgieva was
speaking to Bulgarian reporters in Brussels.

She believes that energy efficiency is more important for
Bulgaria than any other energy issue. "We are poor in energy
resources and have to lower our energy consumption," she said.

She said that the decision to abandon the project is Russia's.
"We have to analyze the impact and the opportunities for
diversifying gas supplies. The options Russia has offered need
careful analyses," she said.

"When one door closes, another opens and Bulgaria can capitalize
on the opportunities for EU funding, which are not
insignificant, for building interconnectors with the [gas
systems] of the neighbouring countries, for capitalizing on the
Juncker Plan and other solutions which generate jobs and
investments. After all, the result may be as good or even
better," she said.

Georgieva added that there is strong support for Bulgaria's
efforts to attract investments to encourage the economy and
address this country's problems.

Commenting on the idea for building a gas hub in Bulgaria, she
said it could be part of the EU strategy for creating a European
Energy Union. It is important for Bulgaria to have connections
with the gas networks of the neighbouring countries "while for a
gas hub one needs somewhere to get the gas and somewhere to
take it".

The EC Vice President said that Russia's declared intention to
bypass Ukraine with its gas supplies to Europe raises many
questions. One is where Ukraine will get its gas.

"The more alternatives for gas supply we have in these
conditions, the better," she said.

Georgieva also commented on the forthcoming European Commission
report on Bulgaria under the Cooperation and Verification
Mechanism (CVM), which will be presented on January 28. She said
that what is happening in the country is more important than
the report itself, and that she has not heart anyone talking
about a separation of Bulgaria from Romania under the CVM.
"History shows that positive changes are possible, let us not
look towards our neighbours but instead try to put things right
in our country," Georgieva said.