Putin: Russia, EU will find solution to questions over Third Energy Package
BRUSSELS. Feb 24 (Interfax) - Russia and the European Union will succeed in finding solutions to the complex questions concerning the EU's Third Energy Package, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
"We have today clearly indicated our concern over several parameters contained in the initiative. I was glad to hear that our colleagues are truly concerned about several nuances concerning implementation of these decisions. I am very hopeful that we will find resolutions that are acceptable for both Russia and our European partners. They are possible," Putin said at a joint press conference with European Commission Chairman Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels.
Putin said that certain provisions of the Third Energy Package are at odds with the bilateral agreement between Russia and the EU (Article 34, Point 1), since it harms the position of Russian companies. "The Third Energy Package absolutely clearly harms the operations of our energy companies, including the virtual confiscation of property. As you know, the Russian and German partners, have even filed suit on that account," Putin said.
Barroso responded that the new legislation is not discriminatory, it applies equally to Russian and European companies.
Putin expressed his interest in "effective and fair conditions for operations by all participants" on the EU energy market.
Putin used the example of the Nord Stream pipeline, and specifically permission to operate the pipeline system and its branches. "Gazprom built the pipeline across the Baltic Sea and plans to use it to transport Russian gas. The regulators have advanced demands that it to let a third participant enter the pipeline.
"Let him where? Where will he get the gas from?" Putin said. The solution provided by EU regulators is: "You will sell the gas when it leaves for the EU - the third participant will appear," he said.
That participant will also want to make a profit, so the price of the gas through the pipeline will increase, Putin said.
"The transportation business is very low margin. And if those pipelines are going to be broken up into smaller companies, they will have to try to survive," he said.
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