Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, has assured Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov of the EU’s support for the country following Russia's decision to drop the South Stream gas pipeline project.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Borisov following their meeting in Brussels, Juncker declared that Europe would help Bulgaria find solutions to the geopolitical challenges.
The EC President noted that the Commission would seek to make sure that EU resources were used for the improvement of the lives of Bulgarians, according to reports of the BGNES news agency.
He noted that energy was an issue which was important for all Europeans, adding that Bulgaria was not alone there and the European Commission stood behind Bulgaria and was not just an observer of the developments in the energy sphere.
Juncker was adamant that the EU Commission would tolerate no blackmailing over South Stream.
He also said that the European Commission and Bulgaria were working together on the gas pipeline project, adding that the unresolved issues were not insurmountable and that the conduit could be built.
Juncker underscored that the conditions for the implementation of the South Stream gas pipeline were clear and had not changed.