Europe Interested in Long-Term Energy Cooperation With Russia

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Europe is interested in long-term cooperation with Russia in the energy sector, Germany's Ambassador to Russia Rudiger von Fritsch said Thursday.

"The Nord Stream 2 is a commercial project. There are two partners: Gazprom and a consortium of various European companies that have come together to implement this project. All of us in Western Europe are interested in carrying out long-term and reliable cooperation with Russia in the energy sector and acquiring Russian energy carriers," von Fritsch told RIA Novosti.

Russia is building an offshore pipeline to Europe across the Baltic Sea together with EU partners. It will run alongside the first Nord Stream pipeline, which has been bringing Russian natural gas directly to Europe since 2011. The new pipeline could provide Europe with up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas a year.

"The Nord Stream 2 is a commercial project. There are two partners: Gazprom and a consortium of various European companies that have come together to implement this project," the German ambassador said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week the project would boost Europe's energy security, in a statement echoed by Germany's special coordinator for Russia policy Gernot Erler.

While Germany has reaffirmed its interest in the project, some EU member states, such as Poland and the Czech Republic, are opposed to the pipeline project for fear this could increase energy dependence on Russia.

Rudiger von Fritsch also stated that Germany welcomes Russia's plans to continue energy deliveries through Ukraine.

"In terms of security it is good and correct to have different energy supply lines. This includes gas transit through Ukraine,"  von Fritsch said.

"It is very good in this regard that the Russian side has recently voiced intentions to continue these deliveries through Ukraine in the future," he added.