Bulgaria 'Never Gave Up Building South Stream'

Bulgaria didn't quit the South Stream gas pipeline project, Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has said.

Petkova is quoted by Focus News Agency as telling reporters that Sofia always perceived South Stream to be "a very important project", but it had to be realized in compliance with European law.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin had pointed out that it was Bulgaria, and not Russia, that withdrew from the pipeline project.

Putin announced the end of South Stream in December 2014, citing Bulgaria's reluctance to issue construction permits for the offshore section. Sofia refused to unblock construction after Brussels said it was launching an infringement procedure over South Stream's incompatibility with the so-called Third Energy Package.