MOSCOW, January 21. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for searching solutions that do not contradict Russia’s agreements with Serbia and other EU member-states in the implementation of the South Stream gas pipeline project.

“This theme had been discussed,” Lavrov said, recalling that Moscow hosted consultations with EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger. “We have an understanding that we should search for solutions that will not contradict intergovernmental agreements between Russia and Serbia and EU member-states, seeking participation in the project.”

Oettinger’s spokesperson, Marlene Holzner, said earlier the start of the construction of the South Stream pipeline sections in Bulgaria and Serbia did not disagree with the European competition laws. However, the agreements among Russia and EU member-states on the construction of the South Stream pipeline did not meet the European legislation and should be elaborated, she said.

The European Commission expressed readiness to help Russia and southern European countries to finalize the agreements, Holzner said.

The intergovernmental agreements to implement the onshore gas pipeline project have already been signed with Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia and Austria. The pipeline’s designed annual capacity in the first year of operation will reach 16 billion cubic meters and will grow to 63 billion cubic meters later. The gas pipeline construction works began in Bulgaria, Serbia and soon will start in Hungary.