MOSCOW, March 13. /TASS/. The resolution of the European Parliament urging to curtail construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project does not change the legal framework governing implementation of the project, press service of Nord Stream 2 AG, the gas pipeline project operator, told TASS on Wednesday.
"Irrespective of political declarations, the implementation of Nord Stream 2 is governed by a binding legal framework that has also been shaped by the European Parliament; the legal framework consists of EU law, international conventions and national legislation of the countries along the planned route. All works are determined by valid permits from the competent authorities of the EU Member States along the route of the pipeline. Nord Stream 2 complies with this binding legal framework. The non-binding political resolution on the state of EU-Russia relations by the European Parliament does not change the legal framework governing the implementation of Nord Stream 2," the company said.
On March 12, the European Parliament approved a nonbinding resolution on the report about political relations between the European Union and Russia, stating the need to curtain the gas pipeline construction project.
"Nord Stream 2 will make a positive contribution to the Energy Union objectives by securing an additional route of gas supply for the import of additional volumes. Europe’s gas demand outlook makes a compelling case for this investment which is fully compatible with the continued imports of gas through existing routes," the pipeline operator added.
The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is scheduled to be put into operation in late 2019. Each of the pipeline’s two lines will have a capacity of 27.5 bln cubic meters. The pipeline, set to run from the Russian coast along the Baltic Sea bed to the German shore, is expected to connect the Russian resource base with European customers. The total project cost of the Nord Stream 2 is estimated at 9.5 bln euro. Apart from Russia’s Gazprom, the project also involves German companies Uniper and Wintershall, Austrian OMV, French Engie and the British-Dutch Shell.