You're reading: EU sanctions not affecting gas sector, South Stream

The South Stream gas pipeline project is being carried out on schedule, despite the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia, Moscow's envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said during a Moscow-Brussels video link on Friday.

“South Stream is being carried out on schedule,” he said.

“I can say that there is not a single word in the current sanctions that affects the gas sector,” he added.

“These intergovernmental bilateral agreements, which were concluded
with all partners in this project, including the countries across whose
territories the South Stream runs, were valid and are valid,” Chizhov
said.

He said the European Commission had questions for Bulgaria on the conditions of holding a tender for the contract work.

“But this is another story. It is being considered under a different
procedure, and the politicization of these issues is obvious,” the
Russian diplomat said.

At the same time he said that in the foreseeable future, Russian gas will remain critical for Europe.

“In the foreseeable future, there are no substitutes for Russian gas on the EU market,” he said.

The overwhelming majority of EU countries are gas importers, he said.

“Of the 28 countries in such a fortunate position [that is, they can
afford not to import energy products] there are two. That is Denmark and
Britain. All the remaining [countries] import energy. Russia is the
largest supplier, but not the only one,” the diplomat said.