European Commission Vigilant On New Pipelines From Russia to Germany

The European Commission wrote on Friday that the new pipelines from Russia to Germany should be compliant with EU legislation. 

"The European Commission recalls that new pipelines must be built in full compliance with EU legislation and will be vigilant about the rigorous application of EU law notably in the field of energy, internal market and competition" reads a note released by European institutions. 

On Thursday, Gazprom has agreed to build a new pipeline to Germany under the Baltic Sea with Shell, E.ON, and Austria’s OMV. Gazprom said that the intention is to build a 55 bcm gas pipeline (which is only slightly lower than the 65 bcm Turkish Stream) 

Reminding that the existing infrastructure from Russia to the European Union are enough to satisfy European energy needs, the European Commission also stressed the need to diversify gas supplies through LNG.  

Currently, the EU imports about one third of its gas from Russia, with almost half of that coming through Ukraine.