BULGARIAN MPs ESTABLISHED TWO AD HOC INQUIRY COMMITTEES TO PROBE INTO FUEL CARTEL AND BOBOV DOL COAL MINE

On 20th of October, Bulgarian lawmakers established an ad hoc committee of inquiry to check all the facts leading to suspicions for distortion of competition at the fuel market and abuse of dominant position, for the period covering 2008 – July 2016.

Both the opposition centre-left Bulgarian Socialist Party and the main ruling party, the centre-right GERB made separate proposals for establishment of such committee of inquiry. The majority in the plenary hall, however, backed the proposal made by the ruling party GERB, which included the period subject to the check (from 2008 to July 2016). The Committee will meet for 3 months and will be led by Valentin Nikolov from GERB. Several days ago, the Commission for Protection of Competition accused 6 oil retailers in cartel agreement following an investigation of a possible violation at the fuel market.

The Parliament established one more temporary committee of inquiry to check the coal mining concession at Babino pit in Bobov Dol mining complex. The committee will be led by Delyan Dobrev from GERB.