Ten European governments — the easternmost members of the European
Union — have complained in a letter that Russia’s plans to extend its
natural-gas link to Germany run counter to EU interests and risk further
destabilizing Ukraine.
The letter, written on November 26, was signed by Poland, Bulgaria,
the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Estonia, Latvia,
and Lithuania.
A group of European companies signed an agreement with Gazprom in
September to expand its Nord Stream pipeline to Germany, bypassing
Ukraine.
EU’s eastern countries now say the project should come under the
closest regulatory scrutiny and called for “an inclusive debate” at next
month’s EU summit.
“The position of the European Commission on the Nord Stream II
project will also essentially influence the perception of the EU’s
common foreign and security policy among its core allies and traditional
partners,” the letter said.
World leaders have been urging Moscow and Ankara to avoid any
escalation of tensions following the shooting down of a Russian jet by
NATO member Turkey.
The Nord Stream extension to deliver increased volumes of gas
straight to Germany could have serious consequences for Kiev and EU
nations, the letter said.
“Preserving the transport route through Ukraine is the strategic
interest of the EU as a whole, not only from an energy security
perspective, but also reinforcing the stability of the Eastern European
region,” it said.
The Commission wants to reduce the bloc’s dependence on Russia, which supplies about a third of its energy.
It has already said it will scrutinise the Nord Stream extension
project for conformity with EU law and that its priority is to diversify
suppliers while maintaining Ukraine’s status as a transit nation.
On Wednesday, Gazprom said it would halt gas deliveries to Ukraine while Kiev said it could find cheaper supplies elsewhere.
“Ukraine is a safe transit route. Gas should continue to flow through
Ukraine,” European Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete
told reporters on Thursday.
He added the Commission was not unduly concerned by the cutoff of
Ukraine’s gas supplies – a recurrent event – as stocks were comfortable.
http://neurope.eu/article/eu-eastern-countries-reject-russias-nord-stream-plans/