Ukraine expects EU to amend Gas Directive to try to block Nord Stream 2

Ukraine expects the European Union to amend the EU Gas Directive, which could block the completion of the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine, that's according to Kateryna Zelenko, a press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

"Regarding the gas directive, you know that Ukraine is now upholding the principles according to which it is European law that must apply to the processes of the use of the Ukrainian gas transmission system, as well as energy dialogue and energy relations in Europe," Zelenko told a press conference in Kyiv Tuesday, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

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"As of now, it is important that we have a final decision that will be made by the so-called trialogue – the European Commission, the EU Council and the European Parliament – which will determine the modality of how European law will further apply," the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman added.

"The format is not as important as of now as the principle of applying European law, because in this case, in the event of any gas disputes, it is the European Court that will be resolving them," she said.

"This will enable both our European partners and Ukraine to shift the entire dialogue into a legal plane and defend the rights of consumers, as well as the interests of Ukraine, in the energy sector already at the European Court platform," said Zelenko.

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As UNIAN reported earlier, France and Germany reached a compromise that would unlock the process of amending the EU Gas Directive, including on the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline.

UNIAN memo. The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction and operation of two gas pipeline branches with a total throughput capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. It should connect Russia's Ust-Luga and Germany's Greifswald.

This new pipeline bypassing Ukraine is to be built next to the existing Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The construction of the pipeline should be completed before the end of 2019. The length of the pipeline will be 1,220 km.

The project is being implemented by Russia's Gazprom in alliance with European companies – ENGIE, Uniper, OMV, Shell, and Wintershall.

Ukraine stands against the construction of Nord Stream 2 as it will most likely lose its status of a gas transit country and its possible revenue losses are estimated at billions of U.S. dollars. The project is also highly criticized by Poland and the Baltic countries.

The United States remains in opposition to the Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream gas pipeline projects bypassing Ukraine.