25/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - Sefcovic says no Commission assessment of NORD Stream 2 before German regulator's decision. Russian news agency Prime-Tass reports that on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday 21 January, European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said that the Commission cannot assess the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project before the German energy regulator makes its decision. “We are now discussing the basic parameters of the project. The first stage at which the project is to be evaluated is the German regulator. So, we are certainly discussing the issue with the German regulator and assess [sic] legal aspects and all aspects regarding environment protection legislation, state procurements' regulation and all other aspects”, Sefcovic said. Since the announcement last September of a shareholder agreement between Russian gas company Gazprom and five Western European energy groups, the Commission has promised to examine the conformity of this project with EU law. The plan is to double the Nord Stream gas pipeline between Germany and Russia, but it is much criticised in Eastern Europe. (EH)