Russia-EU rivalry increases: report

摘要

The rivalry between Russia and the European Union in creating a "southern gas corridor" providing central Asian and Middle Eastern gas into the heart of Europe intensified last year, IHS Global Insight said. The two-fold element in driving competition was last January's politico-economic gas blockade preventing Russian gas transiting Ukraine's borders and the effects of the global economic crisis, which eliminated the rationale for more than one pipeline via southeastern Europe. Russia's Gazprom, arch-foe of Nabucco, spent last year battling to successfully lock-in transit agreements with every country on the proposed South Stream route.