Deutsche Welle: EU turns to Azerbaijan for gas

EU Energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said Tuesday that a new high-level working group would be set up to advance the integration of central and south-eastern European gas markets and pipeline networks. As part of the effort, Sefcovic discussed proposals to link Azerbaijan's gas fields by pipeline with European markets.

The move is partly in response to the uncertainty generated by Russia's surprise decision to scrap the South Stream pipeline project that it had agreed with the EU. Several EU member states that had invested in the South Stream pipeline, or stood to benefit from it - including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Romania and Slovenia - asked Sefcovic to reach out to Russia and discuss whether it might reconsider its decision.

The EU has identified a number of pipeline interconnector projects aimed at improving the flow of gas between various member states in southern and southeastern Europe. Commissioner Sefcovic agreed with the representatives of the member countries who met with him in Brussels that several of these projects should be sped up.
MORE