Merkel: Nord Stream 2 subject to requirements of EU's Third Energy Package

"Nord Stream 2 is not a German-Russian project. It involves companies from Germany, the Netherlands, France, so it is a European-Russian project. It is subject to European law, it is subject to the Third Energy Package, so we are not completely free in regulation and we should refer to this," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a briefing with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

She assured that Germany took Ukraine's concerns about Nord Stream 2 very seriously. According to Merkel, she discussed the problem during her visit to Moscow.

"And we made it very clear that we are in favor of new sanctions within the European framework if Russia tries to use this pipeline as a weapon," the German Chancellor said.

Merkel also said that Georg Graf Waldersee, Special Representative of the Federal Government for Gas Transit through Ukraine, started negotiations to extend the transit agreement after 2024 "right now".

"I told the Russian president that we want to extend the agreement, which is in force until 2024, as soon as possible. We will talk about this in Europe and with the companies involved," Merkel promised.

She assured that Germany and the United States shared the view that gas cannot be used as a weapon, so these talks would be held with the Americans.

"We exchanged views with the President of Ukraine on the expectations of the Ukrainian side. Therefore, on my part, the joint statement by the United States and Germany means more responsibilities for Germany," the Federal Chancellor said.

EU's Third Energy Package is a package of directives and regulations on the European Union's energy and gas markets. The package was approved by the European Parliament in 2009. It aims to further liberalize the energy and gas markets, as well as to strengthen consumer rights. In particular, it is not allowed to concentrate in one hand transport networks, energy production and their sale to consumers. That is, manufacturing companies cannot own highways. Consumers should be able to change their electricity or gas supplier for free within three weeks.

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