Disagreement continues within the EU on Nabucco
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 21, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - The Nabucco pipeline continues to divide the European Union as leaders of the 27-nation bloc failed to reach an agreement on the necessity to support the project at a meeting Thursday, according to a report by the Financial Times.
In January, the European Commission promoted the 3,300-kilometer project, which would carry gas from the Caspian region to Austria via Turkey, in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine standoff that cut gas supplies, as it urged member states to commit 5 billion euros in unspent funds to a series of projects to improve energy security, according to the report.
Germany, the biggest contributor to the EU budget, has repeatedly expressed reservations about the plan, which also includes funding for gas and electricity interconnections, offshore wind and carbon capture and storage pilot plants.
Its opposition in recent days has centered on Nabucco, which German government officials say would provide no stimulus to the economy because work would not begin for years.
The focus on Nabucco was particularly sensitive, since Germany has championed a competing pipeline project, Nordstream, which would bring Russian gas to the country through the Baltic Sea.
Poland, a staunch opponent of Nordstream Ğ and ever wary of Russia's influence Ğ argued yesterday that Nabucco had to remain in the plan if the EU was to make good on its promise to improve its energy security.
"It's the best way for diversification and, consequently, for the energy security of Europe," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Germany, the biggest contributor to the EU budget, has repeatedly expressed reservations about the plan, which also includes funding for gas and electricity interconnections, offshore wind and carbon capture and storage pilot plants.
Its opposition in recent days has centered on Nabucco, which German government officials say would provide no stimulus to the economy because work would not begin for years.
The focus on Nabucco was particularly sensitive, since Germany has championed a competing pipeline project, Nordstream, which would bring Russian gas to the country through the Baltic Sea.
Poland, a staunch opponent of Nordstream Ğ and ever wary of Russia's influence Ğ argued yesterday that Nabucco had to remain in the plan if the EU was to make good on its promise to improve its energy security.
"It's the best way for diversification and, consequently, for the energy security of Europe," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.