14/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - Nord Stream's partner companies have begun negotiations on GDF Suez joining the gas pipeline project which links Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea (project update: EUROPE 9863). The Nord Stream consortium is headed by Gazprom (51%), the German companies E.ON and BASF (which each have a 20% stake), and the Dutch firm Gasunie (9%). (E.H./transl.rh)