The South Stream gas pipeline is not priority for Europe, as Russia insists on this.
Though the project differs from the Nord Stream pipeline, the supplier has remained the same – Gasprom, said President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, APA reports quoting Ukraine’s UNN agency.
Barroso said that the gas pipeline to be constructed from Azerbaijan through Italy can be priority for Europe instead of South Stream, but if Azerbaijan resists Russian pressure: “I want to warn Bulgaria to be cautious of implementation of pipeline projects with Russia and prefer other pipelines that will ensure the diversification of the country’s energy. That is why the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union is of historical importance. There are people in Bulgaria, who are Russian agents. Therefore, these countries’ accession to the EU is historically important.”
The South Stream pipeline is intended to transport up to 63 billion cubic meters of natural gas to central and southern Europe. The construction of the pipeline is underway in Russia, Bulgaria and Serbia. The first gas will be delivered in late 2015. The pipeline will operate at full capacity in 2018.
Apa.az