South Stream will not escape EU law
The proposed route of the South Stream pipeline. (Interfax)
Gazprom will be obliged to grant third-party access to its 63 billion cubic metres per year South Stream pipeline between Russia and Europe if it is built, a spokeswoman for the European Commission confirmed on Monday.
The route for the onshore section of the planned pipeline will cross a number of EU countries, hence the project will be subject to the provisions under the Commission’s Third Energy Package. This includes the obligation to grant third-party access to the pipeline’s capacity on a non-discriminatory basis, the EC’s press officer for energy, Nicole Bockstaller, said.