Russia and EU coordinated principles of south stream group operation

 Russian Deputy Energy Minister Anatolii Yanovsky and EU Energy General Director Dominique Ristory coordinated the principles of operation of the group, which is in charge of solution of the issues related to the South Stream gas pipeline operation on the territory of EU, Sabine Berger, official representative of the European Energy Commissar, tod RIA Novosti.

“The following parameters of the working group have been coordinated at the meeting: the goal of the group was to find the legal framework of the South Stream gas pipeline operation in EU, which will meet requirements of the European legislation,” Berger said.

She said the “the main juridal issies, which wil be discussed, are property of the gas pipeline, distribution of volumes and regulation of prices, considering economic aspects of the gas pipeline.”

The working group’s composition has been also coordinated and the sides have agreed that the work will start immediately.

On December 6, 2013 the Russian Ministry of Energy reported that it has received an official letter from the European Commission saying that it is necessary to revise the contracts concluded with the transit-countries for the gas pipeline construction. EU believes that the bilateral agreements on South Stream with some European countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia, violate the EU legislation. European Commission expects their revision.—0--