What goes on in Poland on the 3rd of April.
Buzek: It is hardly possible that Nord Stream 2 will be completed on time
– I rely on the strength of the European Commission and I would like the European Commission to have enough power to implement all legal solutions within the EU countries. However, there are doubts whether EC will be strictly obeying EU’s regulations concerning Nord Stream 2 pipeline, said Jerzy Buzek talking to journalists. He believes that It is hardly possible that Nord Stream 2 will be completed on time.
The EU Gas directive
Buzek opines that the current gas directive contains all provisions which was expected in order to embrace all built by third countries piplines with EU law.
He stressed that Nord Stream 2 which is thrusting forward by Russians will be covered by EU regulations, including those concerning competitiveness.
– Of course, it will be less profitable for the pipeline’s investors and users, he added.
He also emphasized that rules of exploitation and connection of Nord Stream 2 will be determined by the intergovernmental agreement between Germany and Russia, and they will be strictly controlled by the European Commission.
Buzek added that gas directive will be applicable to Nord Stream 2, but also to other gas infrastructure passing through the territory of the European Union. According to Buzek the EC should strictly stick to the EU law.
– There should not be any doubt about it. The EC has to be restrictive both towards pipelines and other issues. I am afraid that it may not be so, although the European Commission has blocked recently the merger into one company Alstom and Siemens. This is very important especially if some people argue that we have the Franco-German alliance within the EU and that France and Germany are able to deal with all issues between themselves. Please note how much hype and dissatisfaction in Germany and France was triggered by the decision made by the European Commission. Let’s do everything we can to make sure that the EC is restrictive in every case, especially that we can see on the example mentioned above, it does not always work in favor of the Germans, he stated.
Referring to media reports about a possible agreement between Germany and France, regarding Berlin’s support for the controversial EU copyright directive (called ACTA 2 – editor’s note) in exchange for Paris’s support for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, he stated that these issues have nothing to do with each other.
Denmark can hold up the Nord Stream 2 project
Talking to journalist prof. Buzek also mentioned Denmark, which is waiting for the next application for the construction of Nord Stream 2. – It will be expensive for the project and its investors. We can see that gas directive poses problems for the Nord Stream 2, he said. Buzek estimates that the attitude of the Danes may hold up the Nord Stream 2 project. – It is hardly possible that the pipeline will be completed on time, he added.