The European Commission
(EC) is concerned of Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline impact on stability of supplies
to the European Union, the diversification strategy and Ukrainian gas transit,
EC spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said on Tuesday after meeting of EU Energy
Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete with Managing Director of Nord Stream AG
Matthias Warning and Chairman of the Shareholders’ Committee of Nord Stream AG
and former Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schroeder.
"Commissioner Arias
Cañete highlighted the Commission's concern as regards the impact of the
project on security of supply, the EU's diversification strategy, and the
future of Ukrainian transit in particular," Itkonen said.
"Both sides exchanged
their views on Nord Stream-2," the spokesperson said. "From the
European Commission's point of view there are no new developments to announce.
Both sides agreed to continue talks," Itkonen added.
"The Commission
remains in touch with the German National Regulatory Authority
(Bundesnetzagentur) to find out more about the details of the project. On that
basis the Commission will draw its conclusions on the extent to which EU law
applies to the Nord Stream 2 project and the next steps to be taken by the
Commission," Itkonen said.
Nord Stream-2 is the
construction project of the natural gas pipeline with the capacity of 55 bln
cubic meters from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea. The route and the
entry point to the German gas transport system in Greifswald are intended to be
the same as for the first Nord Stream gas pipeline launched in 2011.
The project will be
implemented by the joint project company, where Gazprom will hold 51%, E.ON,
Shell, OMV and BASF / Wintershall - 10% each, and Engie - 9%.
(ITAR-TASS)