Today, the vast majority of Members of the European Parliament
adopted an amendment to the EU Gas Directive that will apply to
pipelines from third countries into the European Union, such as
the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project of the Russian company
Gazprom. Since gas production and transmission cannot be under
the control of one company, Gazprom will have to relinquish the
ownership of the pipeline as it enters the EU territory, and open
up the use of the pipelines to third parties. New pipelines may
be subject to exemptions, but these must be approved by the
European Commission and are subject to strict conditions.
Benedek Jávor MEP, Greens/EFA shadow
rapporteur on the Gas Directive comments:
"Equal rules for all are the right approach for a European
energy policy. Transparency and fair competition are standards of
the European energy market which the gas giant Gazprom must also
adhere to. The German government wanted to circumvent its
European allies on energy policy by doing a deal with
Russia.
"The European Commission should ensure that Nord Stream 2
cannot be used to undermine energy security in the European
Union, as it's also a question of European security. The
unbundling of production and operation will limit the power of
gas monopolies. The European Union is taking an important step
towards not letting Gazprom take control of Europe's energy
supply, and towards a greater energy diversity."
