Bulgarian Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev and EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger discussed the South Stream gas pipeline project at a meeting on Thursday morning.

The two arranged a new meeting in the coming weeks, according to reports of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).

The commissioner's office informed that the next meeting was certain to take place before the second reading of the amendments to the Bulgarian Energy Act envisaging the exclusion of sections of the South Stream gas pipeline from the scope of the EU's Third Energy Package.

Sabine Berger, Spokesperson for Oettinger, informed that the topic had figured prominently in the agenda of Thursday's meeting with Stoynev, adding that the talks would continue at a technical meeting between experts from Bulgaria and the European Commission.

Berger noted that another technical meeting would revolve around the problem with the permits of the power distributors operating in Bulgaria, adding that the matter had also been mentioned during the meeting of Oettinger and Stoynev on April 24.

Oettinger did not come up with a statement after the meeting. Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister is expected to present the outcome of the talks later on Thursday.