Medvedev says EU attempting to force Russia to abandon Nord Stream 2
The EU is expanding the requirements of the Third Energy Package to force Russia to abandon the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, as stated by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev after participation in the ASEAN summit and the East Asian summit in the Philippines, TASS news agency reported.
“In all likelihood, this is a way of putting pressure on our country to either force us to abandon the construction of the second line of Nord Stream, or somehow complicate this work,” Medvedev said.
He added that Russia’s approach to the implementation of the gas pipeline project “remains unchanged.”
“This is not a political tool, it is not a means for our country to influence European countries, as some states and politicians contend, this is a normal commercial project,” Medvedev said.
Last week, the European Commission announced proposed amendments to the EU gas directive 2009/73. They extend the requirements of the Third Energy Package of the EU to pipelines to and from third party countries, a ban on combining the businesses of gas transportation and sale, as well as transparency of tariffs for imported offshore gas pipelines from third countries.