Brussels Puts Talks Over Russian Gas Pipelines on Hold

摘要

Amid growing political tension between Russia and Europe over Ukraine, Brussels has decided to postpone talks with Moscow over the legal status of the planned South Stream pipeline and full capacity utilization of existing Nord Stream. Both issues require compromise to move forward, but this appears unlikely given that tensions remain high. "I won't accelerate talks about pipelines such as South Stream for the time being--they will be delayed," EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger was quoted as saying Monday. A representative of the Russian energy ministry confirmed to International Oil Daily that a delegation of European Commission representatives expected to travel to Moscow on Tuesday for an expert group meeting to discuss South Stream will not make the trip.