Russian President Vladimir Putin and Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann “have exchanged opinions on cooperation in the energy sphere, including with regard to the cancellation of the South Stream project,” the press service said in a statement.
Last week, Putin announced Russia had cancelled the South Stream project, designed to bring Russian natural gas to a number of EU countries, including Austria, via a new route under the Black Sea bypassing Ukraine.
Brussels has repeatedly said that the project violates the European Union's Third Energy Package, according to which it is illegal to own a pipeline and produce the natural gas that flows through it at the same time. Moscow has insisted that the construction of the pipeline does not contradict the regulations.
