"Third energy package" has potential for compromise - Chizhov
BRUSSELS. June 2 (Interfax) - Russia's role as Europe's hydrocarbon supplier will not diminish in the foreseeable future, Russia's Ambassador to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov told Interfax.
"Energy is one of the most important topics of our cooperation. Russia is the largest gas supplier and second largest oil supplier for the EU market," the ambassador said.
Russia's role in this sector will grow, "not least because of the well-known changes in approaches toward nuclear energy in certain EU countries," he said.
"As for the 'third energy package,' today it has taken the effect of law in the EU, so obviously one might expect certain outcomes within the existing opportunities at the expense of the flexibility of its application. I can cite, for instance, the fact that Nord Stream as a project for building a gas pipeline that runs directly from Russia to the EU through neutral waters, is not covered by the 'third energy package' requirements. As for South Stream, it is more difficult because several countries are involved in it," Chizhov said.
The EU understands the importance of this topic, he said. "It is difficult to maintain that the 'third energy package' is aimed against Russia because it puts all companies into an equal position, but of course, in practical terms, it creates problems for Russian energy operators, not only Gazprom but others as well. In this context, I do not want to generate defeatist sentiments as I believe there is a potential for working out compromise options," said the head of the Russian mission to the EU.
Nuclear energy is one of the areas of the active EU-Russia dialog, he said. "A Rosatom delegation was in Brussels on June 1 to discuss with EU representatives the modalities of massive stress tests on nuclear power plants. We believe that the idea of stress tests is right. The question is what it is about," Chizhov said.