Europe must back Ukrainian proposals as Gazprom nears Nord Stream 2 completion

摘要

ANTICIPATED completion of the controversial Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project later this year should be matched by strong European support for efforts by Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia to increase energy independence from Russia.With the pipeline carrying Russian gas across the Baltic Sea to Germany, Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom will be able to halt gas transit flows to Europe via Ukraine and Slovakia, and also via Poland.Gazprom is contractually bound to continue sending gas via Ukraine until the end of 2024. However, it has no such obligation to Poland after their agreement expired last year.European gas market legislation requires Nord Stream 2 to allow access to half of its transportation capacity to third parties, restricting Gazprom to using just 27.5 billion cubic metres of its annual capacity.