At the meeting of EU energy ministers in Luxembourg on Monday 26 June, a number of the Baltic and Central and Eastern European states welcomed the request made by the Commission on 9 June for a mandate from the Council for negotiations between the EU and Russia on the regulatory framework for the operation of the Russian gas pipeline project Nord Stream 2.
Several member states welcomed the Commission’s initiative on Monday and expressed their concern that Nord Stream 2 could compromise diversification of sources of supply, one of the key objectives of the Energy Union project, and threaten the energy security of the EU.
Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland and the Central European countries “most affected” in terms of dependence on a single source of energy supply welcomed the Commission’s move, a Community source has told us.
Italy, too, hailed the Commission initiative, underlining the need not to focus solely on interconnections in the north of Europe, we have been told.
The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project seeks to double the capacity of the Nord Stream pipeline that links Germany and Russia under the Baltic Sea.
The negotiating mandate sought by the Commission seeks to establish a legal framework and to ensure that the offshore section and the coastal leg of the pipeline operate in compliance with the fundamental principles of international law and of EU legislation on energy (in particular, with the third energy package) and security of gas supply, along with EU environmental protection and competition rules (see EUROPE 11805).
The draft mandate will be discussed under the Estonian Presidency by the Council working group on energy. Several member states called on Monday for discussions to be opened swiftly.
Member states’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) will then consider the matter, not only the energy-related aspects but from an external relations angle, too, we have learned.
On Monday, Commission Vice-President with responsibility for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič said he was “optimistic” about being granted a mandate, although he acknowledged that this was “just the beginning of the debate” on this very sensitive and highly contentious issue. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)