“Towards common European energy policy" conference

After the opening of the conference by Toon Streppel, Director of the Information Office of the EP in Sofia, Nina Radeva, Deputy Minister of Economy, announced that a new national energy strategy for the period until 2020 was underway. The document should be ready in the autumn of this year. According to Radeva, the strategy was going to be in line with the new EU policy in the sector. "Bulgaria cannot carry out independent energy policy!", emphasized the Deputy Minister and explained that the country should conform to the framework set by Brussels.

Atanas Paparizov presented his proposals in respect of the EU gas transmission network. The MEP does not expect its final adoption until the end of the year because of the upcoming compromise between the EP and the Council of the EU. According to Paparizov, the new rules with regards to the EU energy sector operation should be approved by the end of EP's mandate in 2009.

The basic subject of the debate was related to Bulgaria's position on the new energy policy. Paparizov noted that his report allowed not only for the total separation of the gas production companies from the distribution ones but also for the so-called "third way" where the two types of companies were only legally separated.

However, in the case of choosing "the third way" there would be strict requirements to the activity carried out by operators of gas transmission networks, as well as enhanced control by national regulators and public representatives. The new package of measures does not set forth the parameters of trans-border cooperation in the energy sector the rules of which should become mandatory. Paparizov's proposal includes a10-year mandatory investment plan for operators which must be coordinated with the regulatory authorities.

Paparizov proposed for a definition of the term "energy poverty", as well as for not allowing supply cuts in winter. He also introduced the possibility of changing the supplier without additional expenses until one month after the filing of an application.3rd_energy_package_MEP_Atanas_Paparizov.pdf (117.38