Energy in Italy

Bulgaria has marked significant progress in carrying out the South Stream project since the current government started its term, the country's Prime Minister asserted Monday.

Plamen Oresharski told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is on a two-day working visit to the country, that the gas pipeline project was "one of the most important" on Bulgarian territory.

BELGRADE - President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) Zeljko Sertic signed in Vienna on Thursday, together with his colleagues from Bulgraia and Hungary, a joint declaration of support for the South Stream gas pipeline project and energy stability of the region.

Serbian, Bulgarian FMs: South Stream of vital importance

BELGRADE -- Ivica Dačić and Kristian Vigenin have said that the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline is of vital importance for their countries.

BELGRADE - The foreign ministers of Serbia and Bulgaria, Ivica Dacic and Kristian Vigenin respectively, said in Belgrade on Thursday that the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline is of vital importance for both countries, and Dacic underscored that this is primarily the issue of energy security and stability, and not relations with Russia.

OBRENOVAC - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said Thursday that he expected from a forthcoming visit by Serbia’s Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to Moscow to prove beneficial to Serbia, adding that Serbia was a missing link for a better cooperation between the East and West.

EU-Bulgaria dialogue on South Stream is "constructive" and "still ongoing", but the pipeline must meet EU requirements, outgoing EU Energy Commissioner said.

Gunther Oettinger told Bulgarian journalists in Brussels that South Stream will be operational only if it is in compliance with what the EU Commission describes as its "rules".

By Paul Tugwell & Nikos Chrysoloras

Investor interest in bidding for permits to explore for oil and natural gas off Greece is stronger than expected, Energy Minister Yiannis Maniatis said.

Bulgaria's political leaders will insist that Europe continue talks with Russia over the South Stream gas pipeline on the European Council starting in Brussels Thursday.

Bulgaria argues in a letter to the European Commission that the structuring of the South Stream gas pipeline project envisages no breaches of EU law.

Bulgaria's stance was approved on June 23 and it is to be presented at the EU summit in Brussels on June 26-27.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has expressed certainty that the problems surrounding the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline section in Bulgaria will be solved.