CIS

Home page

CIS

Russia urges EU to sign gas infrastructure deal

29 March 2012 17:13 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Russia on Thursday urged the European Union (EU) to sign an agreement on gas infrastructure projects aimed at resolving problems emerging with the launch of the Third Energy Package, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"Russia is urging the EU to sign a cooperation agreement to implement infrastructure projects for Russian gas exports to Europe and for collaboration among power systems," the Russian Energy Ministry said in a statement.

This agreement was of key significance and, if adopted, could promote a constructive solution for a whole range of problems, the statement said.

According to the ministry, Moscow developed the draft agreement last year. The document’s main aim is to resolve problems following the launch of the Third Energy Package, which is being discussed by Russia and the EU now in Brussels.

Russia insisted the Third Energy Package did not contain effective mechanisms for attracting investment in infrastructure projects and for the functioning of a gas transport system.

The Third Energy Package plan, agreed in March 2009 and officially launched in March 2011, contained a so-called "Gazprom Clause", designed to prevent companies outside the EU purchasing strategic distribution networks without approval by governments.

The plan particularly affects Russia’s gas giant Gazprom, which produces and sells gas and owns transportation facilities.

Earlier, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the Third Energy Package created problems for gas cooperation between Russia and the EU.

Russia, the largest gas supplier to the EU, is responsible for roughly a quarter of the alliance’s gas imports.