Austria remains committed to South Stream

Austria is keen to move ahead with the South Stream pipeline project, despite ongoing problems in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz told press in Luxembourg: "We need not only more suppliers, but also more variety in the routes that energy can flow to us." Kurz further noted that five EU countries were behind the project.

The South Stream pipeline is due to transport Russian gas to Europe without crossing Ukraine. The European Commission has stated that the pipeline must comply with strict EU competition and environmental laws in order to receive approval.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding talks with Austrian leaders on South Stream, as well as the crisis in Ukraine, this week. According to reports, Putin is also expected to meet Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter. The President is due to oversee the signing of a shareholder agreement between Gazprom and energy company OMV and will try and win Austrian backing for South Stream, following Bulgaria’s decision to halt construction works on the pipeline.

Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling

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