Ukraine wants EU to extend energy legislation to Nord Stream 2
That’s according to Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna who spoke at a press conference in Brussels following a two-day visit to the European institutions in preparation for the upcoming EU-Ukraine summit, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"I can definitely confirm that these issues will be discussed during the summit. This applies not only to the specific Nord Stream 2 pipeline. We believe that this is a matter of energy security and energy independence of the whole Europe," Stefanishyna said.
"For us, as a country whose energy activity conditions fully meet the requirements of the EU's Third Energy Package, it is important that all players willing to work in the European Union market meet these requirements. This is our categorical position, which we will defend at the summit, and accordingly, we will insist that this be reflected in the joint declaration," the Ukrainian government official added.
As reported earlier, the 23rd Ukraine-EU summit will take place in Kyiv on October 12.
Background
- Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom on September 10 announced the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, laid from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea, thus bypassing Ukraine. Russia’s Gazprom is a sole shareholder in the project.
- Germany's Federal Network Agency has been reviewing since September 8 the Nord Stream 2 certification application, filed by the operator, Nord Stream 2 AG.
- Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic countries, and the United States have opposed the pipeline. The German side assures it will do everything to ensure that Ukraine retains its transit role, expecting from Russia guarantees that the gas transit contract with Ukraine be extended after the current 5-year deal, signed in December 2019, expires.
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