Bulgaria received, earlier this year, an exception to the sanctions introduced by the EU against the import of Russian oil by sea due to its geographical location, a spokesperson for the European Commission said today at a press conference in response to a question, reported by a BTA correspondent in Brussels.
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The exception is until the end of 2024, he noted. The purpose of the exception is for Bulgaria to be able to procure, and not to sell, imported Russian oil to other countries – from the EU or foreign countries, he explained.
The spokesman added that this issue was clarified in the sanctions guidelines. The guidelines are presented on the EC website, he added.
A few days ago it became known that the caretaker government plans to lift the ban on Lukoil Neftohim exporting fuels produced from Russian oil. The ban on the export of petroleum products will be lifted at least until the end of 2024, according to the proposal, which was published for public consultation.
In July 2022, Kiril Petkov’s government banned Lukoil Neftohim from exporting fuels produced from Russian oil.
Earlier, the EU introduced a ban on the purchase, import or transfer of Russian crude oil and certain petroleum products. The phasing out of these imports is expected to take six months for crude oil and up to eight months for other refined petroleum products. A temporary exception is foreseen for the import of crude oil by pipeline to those EU countries which, due to their geographical location, suffer from a particular dependence on Russian supplies and do not currently have the opportunity to replace them.
On June 3 this year, the EU finally approved the concession for Bulgaria in the imposition of a partial oil embargo against Russia, with the derogation expiring at the end of 2024.
Bulgaria cannot resell Russian oil to other countries, European Commission Spokesperson, Daniel Ferrie, has told journalists. The country is exempted from the sanctions on Russian oil imports by sea.
Ferrie recalled that the exception from the embargo was made due to Bulgaria's specific geographical location and that it continues for a limited period - until the end of 2024.
"The purpose of this derogation is for Bulgaria to be supplied with oil, not to resell it to other member states or to third countries," Ferrie pointed out.
In response, the Ministry of Finance хас indicated that Bulgaria has no intention of re-exporting crude oil and violating the restrictive measure.
