Energy sector screening, "no mention of South Stream"

Energy sector screening, "no mention of South Stream"

"This is an opportunity for the EU to present its standards in that field. We are not presenting our state of play and South Stream will not be a topic," Miščević told Tanjug.

During the screening, discussions will be held so as to get to know more about trans-European networks and gas and oil supply networks, and how the issues are regulated.

"In a later phase, when we should respond to the question concerning the situation in Serbia, we will touch on the South Stream issue. For now, we got no concrete remarks relating to the issue," Miščević said.

The EU Energy Community Secretariat submitted a request to the European Council last week to examine the legality of bilateral agreements on the South Stream gas pipeline construction, which Serbia concluded with Gazprom.

The Secretariat then said that it resorted to the measure after Serbia did not respond to repeated requests from Brussels to inspect the operations of the companies Srbijagas and YugoRosGaz in Serbia, the two transmission system operators in the South Stream section through Serbia.

According to the Energy Community, the agreements that Serbia concluded with Gazprom do not comply with the so-called unbundling rules in force in the EU, stipulating that one company cannot be at one and the same time a producer and supplier of natural gas.

If it ascertains that Serbia has broken the rule, the Council could deliver a political decision on further steps in relation to the problem.