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Rumours about crisis in Russian-EU relations exaggerated - Lavrov

The European Commission worked out the third energy package to expand competition on the European energy market
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

BUDAPEST, May 2 (Itar-Tass) - Rumours about the crisis in relations between Russia and the EU “are extremely exaggerated” and the sides move forward settling the remaining issues, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

After the talks with Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi on Thursday, Lavrov said, “I wouldn’t say partnership was slowing down. There are always problems when relations are intensive and rich. But we’re moving gradually and steadily to settle the remaining issues, for example with the so-called third energy package.”

In general, the energy dialogue with the European Union has rich experience and it is rather stable. “The Nord Stream first network has been launched,” he added.

“The construction of the Baltic nuclear power station can resolve electricity deficit in the Baltic States and Poland. The work is underway to synchronise energy systems of Russia, Belarus and the Baltic States,” Lavrov said. “In March the parties coordinated the roadmap of the energy dialogue with the EU till 2006

The European Commission worked out the third energy package to expand competition on the European energy market.

Russia believes that excessive competition sets additional margins due to the participation of new companies and reduces the opportunities to attract investments.