EU Commission's Stance on South Stream in Serbia Still Unknown

The position of the new team of European Commissioners on the construction of the Serbian section of the Russia-led South Stream gas pipeline is not clear yet though preparations for the project are underway, the Russian president's top aide, Yury Ushakov, told journalists Wednesday.
"Preparations for the construction of the Serbian section are well underway. I expect them [European Commissioners] to mention it. It has been made clear to Serbia that it will find next to impossible to implement this project without a go-ahead from Brussels, although [Serbia] is more than ready. It is of great interest to them," the presidential aide said.

Ushakov said that the recent elections to the European Commission effectively put its decision-making on hold, meaning that it would take more time for the union's executive body to agree on a unified approach to the South Stream project. A new team of 28 commissioners, one from each member state, is appointed every five years.

• "The Commission is getting new members, so we are still to learn about Brussels" stance [on the pipeline]. We are continuing to raise awareness of the project. It's not over yet. We are ready to go ahead," Ushakov said.

In early October, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic reaffirmed Belgrade's commitment to the South Stream project, saying it would go ahead with its construction.

Russian energy giant Gazprom started building the South Stream gas pipeline across the Black Sea in 2012 to reduce the unreliable passage of Russian natural gas to central and southern Europe through Ukraine. The pipeline is expected to be fully operational by 2018.................http://en.ria.ru/world/20141015/194112027/EU-Commissions-Stance-on-South-Stream-in-Serbia-Still-Unknown.html
15/10/14
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Related:

• Κομισιόν προς Βελιγράδι: «Η Κατασκευή του South Stream θα Επηρεάσει Αρνητικά την Ενταξιακή Πορεία της Σερβίας»

• Duma urges Gazprom to consider expediency of gas transit via Ukraine to Europe

• Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said on Tuesday that all activities related to the South Stream gas pipeline project should be put on hold until it was brought in line with European legislation.

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• Έτινγκερ: Να αναθεωρήσει η Σερβία το συμβόλαιό της με τη Gazprom

• Gazprom: Η συμφωνία του South Stream υπερισχύει της ευρωπαϊκής νομοθεσίας

• Έτινγκερ: Παραβιάζουν την κοινοτική νομοθεσία οι συμφωνίες για τον South Stream

• Κομισιόν: Ακυρώνει όλες τις συμφωνίες για την κατασκευή του South Stream