New EU gas directive rules can be allied to Nord Stream 2

The EU cannot stop the Nord Stream 2, but it needs to make sure that the updated EU Gas Directive is applied to the gas pipeline project, European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources Guenther Oettinger said in an interview with Funke Mediengruppe.

"The Nord Stream 2 construction is in full swing. Stopping the pipeline project is out of question. However, Putting Nord Stream 2 into operation will be possible only if it fully complies with the new, extended rules of the [EU] domestic market," TASS cited him as saying.

The European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources noted that some of the updated Directive’s provisions, including equal access to the pipelines for all entities producing or trading in natural gas, the distinction between gas producers and pipeline operations and transparent pricing.

"I expect interesting discussions to take place before the pipeline will be put into operation in 202. Debates about the pipeline are under way in Europe, including in Germany," Oettinger stressed.

The Nord Stream 2 project will consist of two lines with the combined capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year, running from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. The cost of construction is estimated at 9.5 billion euro. The launch of the pipeline is expected in the end of 2019.