The construction of the ground stretch of the South Stream pipeline in Bulgaria and Serbia starts in July, said Gazprom head Alexey Miller.

According to a statement, published in the Russian-language section of Gazprom's website, in Bulgaria soon will be signed a contract for delivery of materials and equipment, construction and staff training. 

“Today only South Stream can give to Europe real guarantees for energy security,” Miller said. 

According to him, in the autumn will start the construction of the sea stretch and the first natural gas will be delivered through the pipeline in the end of 2015. 

Meanwhile, the EU continues to criticise Bulgaria on its firm intentions to implement South Stream, in spite the official EU position that it should be stopped and warned that if the project violates the EU law, there will be sanctions. 

“The European Commission is concerned that the amendments to Bulgarian energy law do not comply with the rules of the internal EU market, mostly for the exclusion of the so-called sea pipelines from key European regulations,” said Sabine Berger, spokesperson of the European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger on Friday. “The Commission expects that Bulgaria does not pass laws in violation of EU norms. If South Stream is built or operates in violation of EU law, there will be sanctions.”

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