Brussels, 30/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - Talks between the EU, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project, to connect the two former USSR republics under the Caspian Sea to channel gas from Central Asia to the European market, are entering a decisive phase, with a high level meeting planned this week in Brussels. In addition to the question of the volume of gas supply, the different parties are also expected to reach an agreement on the legal basis for the Trans-Caspian project. On the sidelines of a conference on the EU-Russia energy dialogue on Friday 27 April, European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger said that he was confident about concluding discussions by the middle of this year. The Council granted the European Commission a brief in September 2011, to negotiate an agreement with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the legal framework for a gas pipeline system linking the two countries under the Caspian Sea, through which gas will be channelled to the EU by way of the Nabucco infrastructure. (EH/transl.fl)