The government on Thursday announced that a high-level meeting will take place later this month with Bulgarian representatives to focus directly on a still pending environmental study for the cross-border Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline project.

Speaking in Parliament during debate on a tabled question regarding the pipeline, Deputy Environment Minister Yiannis Maniatis also noted that a reworked draft bill regarding construction of the Greek portion of the project will be tabled in Parliament in the next few days, "as the government has taken the reactions by local societies under consideration", as he said.

Moreover, he said the Russian side has also reiterated its commitment to the project and the immediate commencement of construction works, citing statements by the Russian ambassador to Athens.

"Greece steadfastly desires the immediate commencement of construction works for both projects, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis crude oil pipeline and the South Stream natural gas pipeline," Maniatis reminded, stressing that Athens wants whatever obstacles, such as environmental concerns expressed by the Bulgarian side, to be overcome.

The author of the tabled question, main opposition New Democracy (ND) deputy Mihalis Yiannakis, called for the Greek government to table the draft bill as soon as possible.