Vice-President of the European Commission maroš Šefčovič at the 14th Annual meeting of the Yalta European Strategy (YES), organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation has commented on possible refusal of Russian gas transit through Ukraine after the completion of construction of the pipeline “Nord stream – 2”.
“I think that the commercial interest of the “North stream – 2″ is very powerful. But there is also the strategic importance of this project and the political distros, there are different thoughts on this – but there is a common opinion that the transit of gas through Ukraine should remain”, – said Vice-President of the European Commission.
Sefcovic said that the new Russian gas pipeline should be discussed with Russia as part of the implementation of the European legislation and save the transit of gas through Ukraine.
In addition, he noted that Ukraine needs to make its transportation system attractive to investors.
Recall that the transit of gas through Ukraine after 2020 is a priority for the EU, said the Vice-President of the European Commission on Energy Union Maros Sefcovic.
As you know, the contract with Russia for the transit of gas via Ukraine expires at the end of 2019, and Russia has called the conditions under which it will save the transit of gas through Ukraine.
To the implementation of the Russian project Nord Stream – 2 cost nearly 10 billion euros, “Gazprom” and its partners intend to start in April 2018. It is anticipated that construction will be completed by the end of 2019.
Ukraine opposes this construction, calling it politically motivated. Instead, Kyiv has proposed that the EU create a consortium with the involvement of European companies for more efficient management of the existing transportation route through Ukraine. His disagreement with the Nord Stream project – 2 also stated a number of EU countries, particularly Poland and Lithuania.
Yalta European strategy (Yalta European Strategy, abbreviated as YES forum) is an annual conference organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.
The conference gathers the most influential politicians and businessmen of Ukraine and the world, it has been held annually since 2004.
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The aim of the conference is the development of Ukraine and its European future, as well as establishing international ties.
The founder of the Yalta European strategy, Victor Pinchuk, a prominent Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist.
