RFERL: EU Says South Stream Could Be Saved If Russia Follows Rules
The European Commission's new energy chief says that Russia could revive the South Stream natural-gas pipeline project if it follows EU rules.
In an interview with RFE/RL on December 5, Maros Sefcovic said that the EU was willing to discuss the project to pump gas under the Black Sea to Europe, but that Russia must abide by EU energy rules and drop a complaint over the issue in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Russian President Vladimir Putin abruptly announced on December 1 that Russia was abandoning South Stream and blamed the EU, saying European opposition to the project had forced the Kremlin's hand.
The EU rejects that accusation.
Sefcovic said that "we are ready to discuss the project with the Russian side. But of course I think the understanding should be clear: They have to withdraw the case from WTO and they should be ready to how the EU law would be applied in this project."