MEPs to debate plans to expand Nord Stream pipeline from Russia
Russia's Gazprom and several European energy firms recently revealed plans to double the capacity of the Nord Stream gas pipeline between Russia and Germany. A number of MEPs fear this could increase dependency on Russia, weaken Ukraine and affect EU countries bypassed by the pipeline. The debate with the Luxembourg presidency and the Commission is on Wednesday night.
Written questions by MEPs from several political groups raise concerns that the plans, unveiled by the Russian energy firm Gazprom and European firms E.ON, Shell, OMV, BASF/Wintershall and ENGIE, will increase EU's dependency on Russia and harm the political, security and economic interests of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other EU countries that are bypassed. MEPs also fear that Ukraine will become even more vulnerable as a result of losing its strategic role as an important transit country on the Russia-EU gas transit route. The Nord Stream pipeline links Russia’s Baltic Sea coast near Vyborg with Germany’s Baltic Sea coast near Greifswald.
Procedure: Council and Commission statements followed by debate
Debate: Wednesday 7 October
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