You're reading: Economy minister says Estonia does not support Nord Stream 2 project

TALLINN – The Estonian government objects to the laying of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline across the Baltic Sea bottom, Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Minister Kadri Simson told a press conference.

The stance Estonia will present at the June 26 meeting of the EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council was considered at a government meeting on June 22, she said.

“A stance in support of vesting the European Commission with the mandate pertaining to the Nord Stream 2 project was approved,” Simson said.

Back in 2015, ten EU member countries, among them Estonia, sent a letter to the European Commission, urging it to prevent the project’s implementation.

“Estonia has not changed its mind, as we are certain the opinions expressed [in the letter] are correct,” Simson said.

However, considering the wish of Denmark and Sweden, whose waters the gas pipeline will be laid through, to learn the opinion of the European Commission, Estonia deems it necessary to vest the European Commission with the mandate for negotiating the gas pipeline project and to state that the Nord Stream 2 route should comply with the EU regulations, the minister said.

Estonia, which will be chairing the Council of the European Union in the second half of this year, “is due to negotiate a draft of this mandate and to encourage a common opinion of the EU member countries on the issue,” Simson said.

European Energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said on June 11 that Russia and the European Union would discuss the Nord Stream 2 project and the European Commission’s negotiating mandate in September.