Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Export ban on Russian oil products to take effect from 1 January

MPs lift derogation for Russian oil

Vazrazhdane, ITN Lawmakers protest against the vote, get physical

Photo: BTA

The National Assembly has voted in first reading to end prematurely the exemption for the import of Russian oil approved by the European Commission. The adopted amendments will ban the import of fuels produced from Russian crude oil from 1 March 2024 and suspend their export from 1 January 2024.

Lawmakers also approved in first reading the abolition of a 20 leva per megawatt-hour trade fee on the import and transit of Russian natural gas. The decision was prompted by Hungary's threat to veto the country's accession to the Schengen area.

At the start of the session, MPs from the Vazrazhdane and There is Such a People parties again tried to disrupt the vote by forming a human chain around the rostrum. They did the same last week during a protest against the demolition of the Red Army monument in Sofia. 

There were physical clashes, but in the end work continued and MPs spoke from the rostrum using a hand-held microphone.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Municipal councillors in Sofia want "St. Alexander Nevsky" square to be renamed "St. Ivan Rilski"

Municipal councilors from "Blue Sofia" submitted a report in which they insist that the "St. Alexander Nevsky" square in Sofia should be renamed "St. Ivan Rilski". "The square is the most representative public space of the capital of Bulgaria,..

published on 9/26/24 5:39 PM

Bulgaria faces sanctions from European Commission for failing to speed up renewable energy permits

The European Commission has called on Bulgaria and 25 other EU countries to introduce a fast-track approval procedure for renewable energy projects. The new rules should have been in place by 1 July this year. The EC has launched infringement..

published on 9/26/24 3:38 PM
Mayor Vasil Terziev (centre), Deputy Mayor for Finance Ivan Vassilev (left) and City Councillor Simeon Stavrev at a press conference, Sofia, 26 September 2024.

Sofia is at risk of being left without a public transport system

"Stolichen Avtotransport's accounts have been frozen since yesterday, according to mayor Vasil Terziev. He warned that if the company ceased operations, Sofia would be left without public transport. "Deputy Mayor for Finance Ivan Vasilev, like the..

published on 9/26/24 3:24 PM