A new natural gas pipeline that stretches from Greece to Bulgaria started operations on Saturday with the aim of boosting Europe’s energy independence from Russia. “Today, a new era for Bulgaria and south-east Europe begins,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the inauguration ceremony in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. “This pipeline is a game-changer. It’s a game-changer for Bulgaria and for Europe’s energy security. And it means freedom from dependency on Russian gas,” she said, noting that Bulgaria at one point had been receiving 80% of its gas from Russia. Indeed, sho…