Italian EU presidency in support for South Stream pipeline

Italy's under secretary for European politics has given his backing to a controversial gas pipeline from Russia, sparking criticism that the Italian government is overstepping its mandate as EU president.

Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, Sandro Gozi said the Italian government supported the South Stream project, which envisages a 2500 km gas pipeline running from Russia to Italy.

“We think South Stream should go ahead, as it would improve the diversification of gas routes to Europe,” Gozi was quoted as saying.

The pipeline would bypass Ukraine, instead passing through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia before reaching Italy.

Italy’s commitment to the project was endorsed by Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, who this week visited both Ukraine and Russia in her first trip abroad since Italy took over the EU presidency earlier this month.

While emphasising that South Stream needed to respect EU law, she described it as being “very important for the energy security of our country, as well as that of the entire European area.”

Russia provides an estimated 31% of the gas consumed in Italy.

South Stream construction

Serbia has began working on its stretch of the pipeline, but Bulgaria halted construction recently after the EU said the project breached competition rules.

Support from the Italian government has been criticised by Ukraine, which argues that Rome may be overstepping its mandate as EU president.

“The EU presidency should not put forward its national position, but the position of the EU as a whole. This project is not supported by all member states, so I have to ask the question whether Italy has co-ordinated its point of view with its other EU partners or not,” Konstantin Yeliseyev, Ukraine’s EU ambassador, was quoted in EU Observer as saying.

Perspectives on Ukraine

Energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger has said that the ongoing Ukraine crisis has made the EU wary of going ahead with the project.

South Stream would deprive Ukraine of transit revenues from the gas pipelines that cross its territory.

Edited from various sources by Elizabeth Corner

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