Estonia will be taking over the reins of the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July. According to one Estonian source on Wednesday 28 June, it will be proposing to extend the negotiations planned by the European Commission with Russia on the regulatory framework for the Russian Nord Stream-2 gas project to other gas pipelines linking Russia with the European market.
Our source informed us that the energy working group at the Council will have a “first detailed discussion on 25 July” regarding the request presented on 9 June by the Commission to obtain a mandate from the Council on negotiations between the EU and Russia and the regulatory framework for using the Russian Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline (see EUROPE 11805). Our same source added that, “two points are expected to guide these discussions”.
Our source also explained that on the one hand, “We trade gas with many countries including Norway, Energy community countries. We require them to fully implement the third energy package (for the liberalisation of the energy market and its rule on legal unbundling of production assets and energy transmission: Ed). Entering negotiations with Russia on Nord Stream 2 with a different set of rules would be very difficult to explain to the world. So lowering the bar in that context would seem very awkward”.
Our same source also added that on another hand, “If we create or agree on rules for the operation of Nor Stream-2 why should not they not apply to Nord Stream-1? The mandate is to talk with Russia. It is of course possible to include Nord Stream-1. If there is an agreement between the EU and Russia that NS 1 and 2 should be functioning on the same principles, there is nothing unachievable about including the other pipelines coming on the land from Russia to the EU. We need to figure out, to create how to create this level playing field”.
The negotiating mandate requested by the Commission seeks to establish a legal framework and help ensure that the offshore section and coastal part of the gas pipeline function in compliance with the fundamental principles of international law and EU legislation governing energy matters (particularly with the 3rd energy package) and security of gas supply, as well as EU rules on environmental protection and competition (see EUROPE 11805). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)