site.btaUPDATED Bulgarian Finance Minister, Energy Minister Seek Brussels' Support after Russian Gas Cutoff

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Assen Vassilev and Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov Thursday visited Brussels to agree measures following Russia’s suspension of gas supplies to Bulgaria. "Bulgaria received very strong support from the European institutions after Gazprom cut off supplies to Bulgaria," Assen Vassilev said as quoted by the government press office. 

In Brussels, he met with European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans and representatives of the offices of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.

A regional coordination centre for distribution of gas and electricity in South-Eastern Europe will be opened in Bulgaria in the next two weeks.

The next step is joint purchase of natural gas, together with the other countries in the region, said Vassilev.

“Bulgaria has no intention of opening an account in Gazprom Bank,” he added reconfirming his country's resolve not to accept Russia's demand for paying in rubles for gas supply.

The European Commission issued an opinion that payment in rubles would be a violation of the sanctions against Russia, he said.

Vassilev stressed that Bulgaria has never deviated from its gas supply contract with Gazprom, and it was Gazprom who stopped fulfilling the contract unilaterally.  

Answering a question from a reporter, Vassilev said that Bulgaria has paid for Gazprom’s gas supplies for April in US dollars, but the payment was rejected.

In Vassilev’s words, there is no problem with ensuring gas supplies for next winter. Bulgaria is not only able to procure the 3 billion cu m it needs but to distribute 17 to 20 billion cu m more on the European market, as well.

Bulgaria asked the European Commission for legal assistance for arbitration over the contract breach by Gazprom, Vassilev added.