Poland estimated, on Monday, 4 March in Brussels, that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project would “divide EU countries and increase the EU's dependence on Russian gas”.
Poland made this statement during a short debate in the Energy Council on the progress of work on the proposal to amend the Gas Directive (2009/73/EC).
A political agreement between institutions was reached on 12 February, confirmed on 20 February at the level of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (see EUROPE 12199). The final adoption of the text is expected in the spring.
Germany, Sweden, Finland and the United Kingdom welcomed the compromise reached between institutions on the amendment of the Gas Directive.
Poland “welcomed the changes” introduced, “but this does not mean that Poland approves Nord Stream 2, quite the contrary”, the Polish minister of Energy, Krzysztof Tchórzewski also said.
The amendments will test solidarity between EU countries and the Commission's solidarity with Member States on gas infrastructure, Poland also said. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)