site.btaProviding Electricity to Skopje, Sofia Must Stick to EU Rules

Bulgaria encounters difficulties in its efforts to render assistance to the Republic of North Macedonia with the provision of electricity as this country needs to follow the relevant EU regulations, chief expert at the Foreign Ministry, Zhelyazko Radoukov, said Friday, speaking at a briefing. Radoukov commented a request to Bulgaria from the Republic of North Macedonia to provide electricity. 

Radoukov said that the Republic of North Macedonia has a serious problem with the provision of power during the coming winter and has sent a request to this country to provide large volumes of power at prices closer to production costs than to the market price. He said the Republic of North Macedonia is not a member of the EU and that the country has declared a state of emergency. In Radoukov's words, the state of emergency allows the Republic of North Macedonia to ignore its regulatory mechanisms in the area of  energy. 

He said that every effort is being made to find a way in which Bulgaria can help its neighbour in a way that complies with the EU requirements. Bilateral and trilateral talks on the issue with the the participation of the European Commission are being held, Radoukov said, voicing a hope that an option to render the aid will be found.