Bulgarian Energy Watchdog Head Confirms Resignation

The Chairman of the Bulgarian State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation, DKEVR, Angel Semerdzhiev, confirmed Tuesday that he had submitted his resignation.

"DKEVR can continue its work without me, without any of us. The colleagues are here and they keep up with the work. I have resigned and, most likely from Wednesday on, I would not attend the sittings," said Semerdzhiev.

He noted he needed time to reflect on what has happened, adding he had nothing else to say and the next time, the media will be talking with his replacement.

On Monday, Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, announced he would be proposing to the Cabinet to dismiss Semerdzhiev.

In a press release, the Council of Ministers explained the dismissal is connected with the delay and lack of a number of administrative acts from the Electricity and Gas Directives, requested by the European Commission.

It was further noted in it that in the last six months the Ministry of Economy and Energy had sent three letters to DKEVR to ask them to speed up the procedures for applying the Directives.

It was reported last Thursday that EC is referring Bulgaria, Estonia and the United Kingdom to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to fully apply the EU internal energy market rules.

According to the EC's press office, to date Bulgaria, Estonia and the UK have only partially transposed the Electricity and Gas Directives. The Directives had to be transposed by the Member States by 3 March 2011.

Economy and Energy Minister, Delyan Dobrev, blamed DKEVR for the EC case against Bulgaria.

At first, Semerdzhiev stated that DKEVR has already adopted one of the said Directives.

He explained the remaining 3 directives will be prepared by DKEVR in just days, and stated the deadline for the latter was mid-July and obviously no one had told Dobrev that a one year delay of all directives was included in the law.

However, it was reported Monday that Semerdzhiev has logged the request to be released before the end of his term in office as a Chair and member of the watchdog.