Construction of South Stream is not priority, EU says

The South Stream gas pipeline is not on the priority list of the European Commission, European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger's spokesperson Sabine Berger told Interfax on Friday, the Voice of Russia reports.

According to Berger, the European Commission prioritized the appearance of new suppliers for supply diversification purposes, and the southern gas corridor could be an option.

At the same time, the European Commission welcomes any new gas pipeline which is fully consistent with the European legislation. Major infrastructural projects implemented in the EU have to comply with EU laws, among them the Third Energy Package and regulations on environmental protection, public procurement and competition, Berger is quoted as saying.