East European states intend to block Nord Stream 2 project

BRUSSELS, December 1. /TASS/. The European Commission (EC) has received a letter from eastern European states on their intention to block the Nord Stream 2 project, European Commission energy spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said on Tuesday.

"Yes, I can confirm that we’ve received the letter," she said.

According to Itkonen, the EC will consider and offer a response. "We’ll offer a response to it just like to any other letter we receive," she said.

On Monday the Financial Times reported that nine countries of central and eastern Europe, led by Poland and Slovakia, are petitioning to block the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which allegedly undermines the EU’s energy security. In a joint letter to the European Council president Donald Tusk, the countries demand that "the proposed pipeline between Russia and Germany be put on the agenda of next month’s summit of EU leaders, in an attempt to pressure Brussels to withhold its approval," the newspaper wrote. The new pipeline, which will be the second to connect Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea, "will increase Europe’s dependence on Russian gas monopoly Gazprom." According to the letter, the project "contradicts the EU’s own energy diversification and security policies" while the leading countries of the European Union that support it are putting their "own economic needs ahead of their energy security."

On September 4, Gazprom, BASF, E.ON, ENGIE, OMV and Shell signed a shareholder agreement for construction of a gas transportation system Nord Stream 2, an export-oriented natural gas pipeline with total annual capacity of 55 bln cubic meters from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea. The project will be implemented by the joint venture Nord Stream AG where Gazprom holds a 51% stake, E.ON and Wintershall - 15.5% each and ENGIE and Gasunie - 9% each.