Russia 'Not Invited' to South Stream Consultations among EU Member States

Moscow has not received an invitation to to take part in the consultations the EU Commission is due to hold with EU states over the South Stream gas pipeline, Russian government sources say.

The meeting was scheduled for December 9 by EU Energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced South Stream would not be built.

"It is clear that the ministers of member states which are parties to South Stream have to make plans on their position and it is probably this matter that will be put to discussion in Brussels," the sources told Russian agency RIA Novosti on the condition of anonymity.

On Thursday, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov Sofia and Brussels would jointly decide on the EU's stance with regard to South Stream.

Putin said while in Ankara on Monday that Bulgaria's resistance to the project had been the reason for Russia's move to end the project.