Paris to support EU gas directive against Nord Stream-2

PARIS, Feb 7 (PRIME) -- France plans to support revision of the E.U. gas directive, under which the third energy package can be applicable for Russia’s Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline retroactively, a Foreign Ministry representative said in a news briefing on Thursday.

“Revision of the gas directive has the goal of applying the rules of the third energy package to all gas pipelines from third countries that run through the European territory. The revised directive will be applied to the Nord Stream-2 project,” the representative said, adding that France would support approval of the directive.

“We continue work with partners, including Germany, over the changes that may be made to the text.”

The Nord Stream-2 project envisages construction of two lines of a natural gas pipeline with an annual capacity of up to 55 billion cubic meters, running from the Russian shore to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Gazprom will implement the project together with Germany’s E.ON and BASF, Royal Dutch Shell, OMV, and France’s Engie.

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