site.btaParliamentary Investigation Launched into Lukoil's Use of Derogation from EU Ban

The National Assembly on Thursday set up an ad hoc committee to investigate how the Lukoil Neftochim refinery used a derogation from the EU ban on processing oil originating from Russia. The committee includes members of all parliamentary groups on a parity basis. The Assembly failed to elect a committee chair.

The European Commission granted the oil derogation to Bulgaria in 2022 due to the country's specific geographic exposure. It was revoked on March 1, 2024, by a Bulgarian National Assembly resolution ahead of the European Commission deadline of December 31, 2024.

There were two separate proposals to investigate Lukoil's use of the derogation. One of them was submitted by Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria, and the other by GERB-UDF. The former was eventually withdrawn. The GERB-UDF motion was approved by a vote of 151-33 after some modifications. The ad hoc committee members were approved by a single vote of 180-1, with 3 abstentions.

The MPs tasked the ad hoc committee to examine the economic effect of the derogation on Bulgaria and a failure by the minister of economy and industry to discharge his duties in connection with the entry into force of the Consumers' Transport Expenditures Compensation Act.