Barroso: 'Europe needs Nord Stream'

TALLINN -- The controversial Nord Stream project for pumping Russian natural gas to Germany via an underwater pipeline in the Baltic Sea serves the interest of the European Union and the bloc has to support it, the president of the EU's executive Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, told an audience in Tallinn on Dec. 20.

Barroso was in town to celebrate the enlargement of the Schengen border-free zone, but responded to press questions when asked about Nord Stream, which the Estonian government opposes. Nord Stream is a project that supports the EU's energy supply needs, Barroso said.

The Commission naturally intends to watch that all environmental requirements are observed in the construction of the pipeline, he added.

It is also important to the EU executive to reach political consensus on the pipeline with all EU member states, especially countries like Estonia that are involved in it, he said.

Barroso stressed that the Commission simultaneously wants to diversify the EU's energy sources so that supplies come from different countries and by as many alternative routes as possible. In his words, it is also essential to increase the use of non-fossil fuels.

The Estonian government ruled in September not to give Nord Stream permission to conduct seabed surveys for the underwater gas pipeline in the Estonian economic zone, citing the country's sovereignty and national interests in the economic zone.

Estonia has repeatedly pointed at environmental hazards the laying of the pipeline in the Baltic Sea may involve. InEstonia's view, it would be more sensible to build a land-based pipeline. Finland and Sweden have also expressed concerns about the possible environmental impact of Nord Stream.