Stroytransgaz

Bulgaria’s ruling Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, said it disagreed with its senior coalition partner, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, over plans to continue building the South Stream pipeline, which the EU has opposed.

The European Commission opened an infringement procedure against Bulgaria on 3 June, and asked the authorities to halt construction work in the meantime.

The South Stream gas pipeline project must be temporarily suspended until full compliance with EU law is observed, the EU Commission believes.

In a communique to the European Parliament and the European Council, the EC says that "new investment into infrastructure being made by the dominating suppliers have to match the rules of the [EU's] internal market and competition."

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.

Russian Stroytransgaz consortium will build the Bulgarian stretch of the South Stream gas pipeline, it was revealed.

The Russia company Stroytransgaz, reportedly owned by the blacklisted Gennady Tсmchenko has proposed to buy a share in Bulgarian Energy Holding.

Gennady Timchenko, included in US list of sanctions over Ukraine, is to build Bulgaria's part of the South Stream.

The Russian official is reported to have a 63% share in Stroytransgaz, the company in charge of Bulgarian sector of the South Stream pipeline project.