Deputies decided: Lukoil's concession for Rosenets port to be terminated by accelerated procedure

Suddenly, with 144 "yes" votes, the deputies decided that Lukoil's concession for Rosenets port should be terminated under an accelerated procedure. The decision passed the first, and immediately after that, the second reading of the National Assembly with a change in the Law on the Implementation of Sanctions against Russia (Bill to amend and supplement the Law on Control over the Implementation of Restrictive Measures in view of Russia's actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine).

The defenders of the presented vision for the state to take back Rosenets argued that European procedures are followed.

The awarded concessions for the implementation of activities in strategic objects of importance for national security, affecting oil and products of petroleum origin, produced from crude oil, originating in Russia or exported from Russia, to persons falling within the scope of a European regulation on restrictive measures in view of the actions of Russia, destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, are terminated within a week, the deputies wrote in the second reading.

Within two weeks of the withdrawal of the concession, the Ministry of Transport and Communications will take over the operational management of the facility, the parliament also decided. This text was proposed by Hamid Hamid (DPS) as an editorial amendment in the plenary and approved with 143 votes in favor, 52 against and 1 abstention.

Petar Petrov's ("Vazrazhdane") proposal to terminate the concession within a four-week period, rather than a one-week period, was rejected.

The procedure for terminating the concession caused controversy among the deputies.

Daniel Laurer from "Continuing the change"-Democratic Bulgaria" pointed out that the procedure is carried out on the basis of the sanctions regime. "It is extremely clear that the termination of the concession is based on a pan-European sanctions regime".

In the course of the debate, BSP and Vazrazhdane opposed it on the grounds that the termination of the concession does not benefit the country.

"Are you aware of the amount we will have to pay if they file a lawsuit against us," asked Borislav Gutsanov from BSP.

Ivaylo Mirchev from "We continue the change" opposes, referring to the introduction of the figure of a "special manager". "A few months ago, we introduced the figure of the special governor with a fairly serious majority, which will not allow companies like Lukoil to extort the Bulgarian state in any way," explained Mirchev.

DPS MP Hamid Hamid explained that a loophole was left in the Law on the Control of Implementation of Restrictive Measures in view of Russia's actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, which was used to prevent the concession from being terminated.

"A law was passed in January (January 13, 2023), Bulgaria belatedly implemented this regulation. By adopting it, however, a loophole was left in the law, which the official government uses and does not terminate the concession, even though the law obliges them," clarified Hamid Hamid from DPS.

Delyan Dobrev from GERB commented on the role of the derogation granted by the EU for the supply of Russian oil by sea.

"I don't know that a penny has been deposited into the fund," he said.

The MPs from "Vazrazhdane" took a different position. "We don't look at any economic indicators, we don't look at the consequences, we don't look at any kind of analysis of what it will cost the tax authorities, what it will cost consumers, what it will cost businesses," said Tsoncho Ganev from "Vazrazhdane".

The "Vazrazhdane" party, for its part, proposed the termination of the procedure, which led to tension in the hall and a break to calm the situation.

By the way, the deputies from "Vazrazhdane" committed to appeal to the Constitutional Council because of their deprived right to make changes between the first and second reading of the bill, which regulates the withdrawal of the concession of Rosenets port from the company "Lukoil". The announcement was made in the booths by party leader Kostadin Kostadinov. He expressed fears that the state could be sued and pay compensation to the company. "Not for the first time, the Constitutional Court is the last refuge of Bulgarian justice and Bulgarian statehood. We hope that this will be the case this time as well. However, you know what the bad thing is? Time will pass. During that time, court cases will be started. The Bulgarian state will be sued. It turns out that Lukoil can work without problems in the Netherlands and Belgium, and in the Benelux in general, but in Bulgaria it is not possible," commented Kostadinov.

"Vazrazhdane" promised to organize protests against the government when "the rulers least expect it".

"Trampling on the Constitution". This is how the BSP leader defined what happened. According to Ninova, there is no motivation in the bill - an assessment of the impact on the economy, ecology and prices, she pointed out, criticizing.

"We ask the importers. But what can Boyko Borisov tell you about assessing the impact of some law. Well, he doesn't understand it, but he signed it in the first place because he has to be the hawk. He has to save his skin from justice once again. The parallel state came back with 200, as Borisov said. Those in the middle - PP and DB - the smart, the beautiful, the democrats, are now their napkin with which GERB and DPS rub themselves. Hey we cannot understand this," commented the BSP leader.

The provisions of the bill with the editorial changes were voted en bloc and adopted with 144 votes "for" and 52 "against". GERB-SDS, "We continue the change - Democratic Bulgaria" and DPS voted in support of the amendments in the second reading. "Vazrazhdane" and "BSP for Bulgaria" were against, and the deputies from "There is such a people" did not participate in the vote.