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Austrian Vice-Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday that his country supports the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, the implementation of which he claims is being prevented due to "political considerations," Russian newspaper Kommersant reported.
One of the key issues of the closed meeting was energy, namely the fate of the Nord Stream-2 project, according to the report.
Austria's oil and gas company OMV, with the state being the largest shareholder, owns 10% shares in the project, the same as UK-Dutch Shell, Germany's E.On and Wintershall, as well as France's Engie.
Read alsoEuropean Parliament calls EU states to avoid building new gas pipeline from RussiaThe EU leaders are said to have had a very "tough and emotional" debate regarding the fate of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project on January 18. European Council President Donald Tusk said it would be up to the European Commission to make a final decision on legality of the project.
According to Kommersant, the Austrian Vice-Chancellor assured Dmitry Medvedev that his country would make best efforts to promote the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. At this, Mitterlehner acknowledged that there may be two obstacles: Poland's resistance, as well as "political considerations of the European Union and differences in the EU nations' approach." At the same time, the Vice-Chancellor made it clear that the mentioned obstacles were political, and not legal, in nature, since a number of EU countries were concerned about their increasing reliance on Russia.
Read alsoNaftogaz CEO: Nord Stream 2 will kill gas transit via UkraineAt this, Mitterlehner added that Finland's position on the Nord Stream 2 would not be a big problem.
It is reported that Gazprom will have to select the contractor for construction of the offshore section of the pipeline under the Baltic Sea, with the deal being estimated at $4 billion. According to Kommersant, it could be French company Technip, Swiss company Allseas, Dutch company Royal IHC or Italian company Saipem.