EC keeps tough stand on South Stream

The European Commission still takes a tough stance on the South Stream gas pipeline, insisting on the suspension of the project and is ready to conduct proceedings with the EU countries, which participate in the project, the head of European Commission's Directorate for Energy, Dominique Ristori stated to journalists.

The European Commission believes that the South Stream project, aimed at diversifying export routes for Russian gas to Europe, doesn’t comply with the Third Energy Package. In response, Russia has started proceedings at the WTO on the application of this Energy Package’s rules, which prohibit companies that produce gas to its own main pipelines in the EU.