EU Interested in Ukraine Remaining Gas Transit Country - Commissioner

The European Union is interested in Ukraine remaining a gas transit corridor, EU Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The commissioner added that the European Commission was ready to facilitate the conclusion of a new transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine, as the current expires in 2019.

"Despite economic and political challenges, Ukraine continues to be a reliable gas partner and transit country. It is in the interest of all parties, including and notably the central and eastern European countries that Ukraine remains a significant gas transit corridor," Canete told a European Parliament plenary session on impact of Nord Stream 2 on the gas market in the Central and Eastern Europe region on Monday.

The Nord Stream 2 project aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas a year to the EU across the Baltic Sea to Germany bypassing Ukraine. The gas pipeline project plans to use the original Nord Stream pipeline for 86-percent of the route before branching off.

The gas pipeline project has been met with opposition from some EU member states over fears it would increase European energy dependence on Russia. At the same time, Germany has repeatedly expressed its interest in the project, saying that it would bring more benefits for EU members and provide energy safety and security to the 28-nation bloc.