12 January 2009

On January 12, 2009 the Members of parliament heard the report concerning the efforts of the government to tackle the effects caused by the halt of gas supply for Bulgaria.

The National Assembly adopted a declaration to this effect.
The declaration states that the suspension, without warning, of the gas supply for Bulgaria has put the country in an extremely harsh situation and in addition led to considerable losses for the economy.
The declaration further stresses that in this situation the NA of the Republic of Bulgaria considers that the preventive mechanism, set by Council Directive 2004/67/EC, of 24.4.2004 of the EU, concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply, could be applied to Bulgaria and asks the European Commission to make a decision and consider ways to help Bulgaria as the member country most affected by the suspension of gas supply on the part of Russia to Ukraine and the European countries.
The declaration states that the Bulgarian government, the president and the state institutions have undertaken all the necessary steps towards preventing the energy crisis and getting the country back to normal.
It calls for the concerted efforts of the EU, Ukraine and Russia for solving the crisis.
The declaration calls for the immediate restart of the gas supply, leaving the rest of the unresolved issues for the near future. It expresses support for the government efforts to find and develop internal sources and depots of gas and the fast development of routes of supply from Romania and Greece and for the diversification of the gas supply sources through the construction of the pipelines “Nabuko” and “South Stream”. It recommends the set up of a special group of officials and experts aimed at analyzing the crisis, what caused it and whether the competent authorities have responded adequately and in compliance with the existing in the country regulations. The group could also make recommendations for the future improvement of the legal framework and make assessments of the losses incurred and the possible ways for Bulgaria to obtain compensations.