Électricité de France

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski sees no connection between the suspended European funds for regional development and the South Stream issue.

The European Commission decided to temporarily suspend payments to Bulgaria under the Operational Programme for Regional Development, citing mismanagement during the 2010-2013 period.

BELGRADE - The matter of compliance of existing South Stream agreements with the EU laws is addressed in the dialogue between Gazprom and the European Commission, and in case some of the signed documents need to be amended, Serbia will act in line with the agreement and the actions of other countries hosting the gas pipeline, Tanjug learned at the Ministry of Energy and Mining on Wednesday.

Russian energy giant Gazprom has lowered its projected gas deliveries to Europe this year.

The company plans to export 158 bcm of gas to Europe and a combined 56 bcm to the Baltics and the Community of Independent States (CIS), compared to 2013's 161 bcm and 59.4 bcm, respectively, as the Russian website Lenta.ru reports citing data from the company.

The European Commission outlined the two problems it sees in the construction of Bulgaria's South Stream pipeline section to explain why it demands that it be halted.

Issues of competition and public procurement are behind the EC's decision to launch an infringement procedure against Bulgaria over its South Stream section.

EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger has tied the South Stream gas pipeline to the political behavior of Russia in the conflict in Ukraine.

From Financial Times

By Christian Oliver in Brussels and Jack Farchy in Moscow

Gazprom has accused the EU of applying double standards to block its landmark gas pipeline into Europe in a case that looks increasingly likely to spiral into an acrimonious legal showdown.

Greek officials said Thursday the country was interested in having the South Stream gas pipeline on its territory.

Works on South Stream expected to start in July

BELGRADE -- The construction of the South Stream gas pipeline section through Serbia could begin in July, it was said on Thursday in Belgrade.

The announcement came from Gazprom's international projects department head Aleksandr Siromyatin.

BELGRADE - The construction of the South Stream gas pipeline section through Serbia could begin in July, head of the Gazprom international projects department Alexander Siromyatin said on Thursday.

From Euractiv

Speaking after the EU summit held yesterday (27 May), Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso made it plain that the EU executive would impose infringements on Bulgaria regarding the Gazprom-favoured South Stream pipeline, the construction of which is about to begin in breach with EU laws.