Bulgaria’s draft budget for 2024 included revenues from the energy contribution for the transit of Russian gas, which was introduced in October. The Bulgarian government expects to reduce Gazprom’s revenues and replenish its budget with an additional fee of $1.3 billion, Dnevnik.bg reports.
At the same time, no one knows whether Gazprom will pay this fee at all. The Russian company operates under a long-term contract for gas transit, under which it pays for the services of the Bulgarian side.
Former Bulgarian Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said that without the energy contribution, the budget deficit would increase by 1.2–1.5% and exceed the 3% limit that must be met for admission to the Schengen zone.
On October 13, the Bulgarian Parliament adopted a law that introduced an energy fee for the import and transit of Russian gas. Its size is 111 dollars per thousand cubic meters. This is approximately a quarter of the cost of fuel from Russia for European consumers.
Finance Minister Asen Vasiliev said that Bulgaria wants to reduce Gazprom’s revenues, and not increase the cost of gas for neighboring countries. In 2024, 12 billion cubic meters should pass through Bulgaria to Hungary, Serbia, North Macedonia, Romania and Greece. Hungary was more active than others in opposing Bulgaria’s plans. She filed a complaint with the European Commission demanding an investigation and stopping the measure. Otherwise, Budapest threatened EU court action.
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev submitted a request to the Constitutional Court, considering the introduction of an additional fee a violation of European law. He called the whole story a megalomania of some politicians trying to dictate terms to Bulgaria’s allies and partners, on whom Sofia is counting on for admission to the Schengen zone.
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2023-11-17 11:32:13
