North Macedonia Demands Compensation from Bulgaria if it has to Pay the "Russian Gas" Tax

If the extraordinary energy tax on the transfer and transit of Russian natural gas through Bulgarian territory is introduced for the Republic of North Macedonia, the country will request compensation from Bulgaria and additional support from the European Union.

This was announced by the Minister of Economy of North Macedonia, Kreshnik Bekteshi, quoted by BTA.

From October 13, Bulgaria introduced an extraordinary energy tax on the transmission and transit of Russian natural gas through its territory in the amount of BGN 20/mWh. This is around 20% of the price of European gas traded in the regional center of Amsterdam.

The aim is to make it more unprofitable for Gazprom to supply gas through Bulgaria, the Bulgarian authorities claim, expecting an income of about 3 billion leva (1.5 billion euros) a year.

"The new tax is fully in line with the EU's goals to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Since most of Gazprom's contracts are determined at the point of delivery in a given country, the tax is unlikely to have an impact on downstream gas prices. This will only reduce Gazprom's profits", commented to the Financial Times Bulgarian Finance Minister Asen Vassilev last week.

He announced that the Bulgarian government had notified the European Commission of the changes, which subsequently confirmed and stated that it approved the measure.

The gas pipeline through Bulgaria to Serbia is the only way North Macedonia is supplied with gas.

"If they introduce a tax for the natural gas coming from Gazprom, which is legitimate from their side, then the quantities that Gazprom gives to North Macedonia should be released. This is our demand. We do not want to interfere in the fiscal policy of Bulgaria, but in the...