The European Commission has sent letters to Sofia informing that the contracts with the two thermal power plants in the Maritsa East Basin (Maritsa East 1 and 3) are a form of state aid. That is why the Bulgarian authorities should enter into its role and end these practices, the Chairman of the National Assembly Energy Committee Valentin Nikolov said. The Bulgarian Ministry of Finance has ascertained state aid and the authorities have launched negotiations with AES Galabovo TPP for compensations. There are indications that ContourGlobal thermal power plant has already paid its investment ahead of schedule, Valentin Nikolov said. From now on, the procedure envisages bilateral or unilateral cancellation of contracts and compensations. The case may even be referred to arbitration, MP Nikolov forecasted.