European Commission offers mediation between Russia and Ukraine on Nord Stream-2
The European Commission (EC) offered mediation services to Russia and Ukraine in the dispute over the new Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline construction. The goal is to conclude a detailed agreement on continuing of the Russian gas transit through the territory of Ukraine after 2019, said the Deputy Chairman of the EC, Maros Sefcovic on Friday in Brussels.
He claimed that Germany actively facilitated the coordination of such a tripartite meeting. On May 28, Sefcovic plans to discuss with Russia a possible date for the negotiations. Ukraine fears losing billions in payments for gas transit after the launch of the Nord Stream-2, which will directly connect Russia and Germany.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, during the conference in Brussels, urged to stop the construction of this new gas pipeline. According to him, Moscow is using a "new type of weapon in its hybrid war" and is trying to blackmail Ukraine. Representatives of Poland and the US also sharply criticized the Nord Stream-2.
Maros Sefcovic admitted that the EC does not have tools to stop the construction of the Nord Stream-2 project. At the same time, he added that the European Commission intends to amend the EU Gas Directive framework to clarify that such pipelines are under the jurisdiction of the EC. The amendments can be adopted by the energy ministers of the EU countries in June, the deputy chairman of the European Commission said.