Brussels, 17/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Moscow wishes to obtain an exemption from compliance with the single market rules for the gas pipelines operated by the Russian gas company Gazprom, North Stream and South Stream.
Russia plans to put to the EU, at the bilateral summit to be held in Brussels on 21 December, an updated draft agreement on the trans-national gas pipelines operated by the national gas company Gazprom, North Stream and its offshoots OPAL and NEL, which link it to Germany under the Baltic Sea (see EUROPE 10491), and South Stream, which connect it to the European market via Bulgaria, under the Black Sea (EUROPE 10751).
The idea is for Moscow to obtain exemptions for both pipelines to the rules of the third legislative package of the EU on the liberalisation of the internal energy market as regards access to third parties and the unbundling of the supply and transport activities of energy operators, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak intimated on 14 December, quoted by the press agency Platts. In this way, Russia wishes to obtain the status of trans-European energy network for its two new infrastructures.
No progress in tripartite talks in Ukraine. Novak also told the press that no progress had been made in talks between Russia, Ukraine and the EU on a tripartite consortium tasked with modernising the Ukrainian gas transport system. Ukraine proposed the creation of a three-way joint venture, which would also include one or more European companies. By creating a joint enterprise, Kiev hopes to reach an agreement with Gazprom to obtain a lower price for supplies of Russian gas. However, Russia and Ukraine, through which 80% of Russian gas destined for the EU currently transits, have so far failed to reach an agreement over the value of the facilities. (EH/transl.fl)