Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has suggested that he expects a clear answer from the European Commission as regards the future of the South Stream gas pipeline projects.

Speaking after a meeting with Joseph Daul, President of the European People's Party (EPP) he underscored that he had read the Power of Attorney through which Bulgaria has delegated all of its rights under the project to the European Commission.

He said that he expected the EC to come up with a clear “yes” or “no” answer to the question.

Borisov argued that Bulgaria could have cancelled the controversial tender for the gas pipeline project and organized a new one, thereby making sure that it was not an obstacle for the scheme.

He also told journalists that he intended to bring up the question of whether a gas pipeline route via Turkey would result in diversification or not at a meeting with Donald Tusk and Martin Shulz on Thursday.

Borisov emphasized that he was still sad that Bulgaria had been sidestepped by the Nabucco gas pipeline, adding that the country would not be facing a problem if it could rely on the Nabucco project.

As regards the situation with EU funding for Bulgaria, he informed that the country was in the process of restoring the trust of European partners in local institutions, stressing that the efforts were expected to result in a chance to prove that the country can absorb the money it had been allocated.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister announced that Sergey Stanishev, Chair of the Party of European Socialists (PES), had taken part in the meeting with the EPP President.

He made clear that the agenda of the talks had also included the issue of Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen.

“Bulgaria has fulfilled the necessary requirements and it must be admitted to the Schengen zone and the topic must be brought back onto the agenda,” Borisov commented, as cited by the press office of the Bulgarian government.

He rejected allegations that Stanishev’s presence at the meeting could be interpreted as a sign that there had been a discussion on a new government formula for Bulgaria.

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