Baltic Sea Pipeline: 'an important issue for the EU'

11.12.27am GMT Tue 8th Jul 2008

Commenting on the Libicki report on the proposed Baltic Sea Pipeline in today's debate in plenary in Strasbourg, Diana Wallis MEP, theAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) shadow rapporteur on the Petitions Committee said:

"This is an important report for the Petitions Committee and is an important issue for the EU.

"In the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe we are seeking to adopt a 'European approach' in the three ways.

"Firstly by underlining the need for a truly European energy policy where all EU Members states co-operate; the Nordstream project could very well form a part of that.

"Secondly, by making sure that, in what is undoubtedly a vulnerable area, European standards of environmental protection are met.

"Thirdly by using the challenges occasioned by this pipe-line project as an opportunity to enhance the EU / Russia working relationship through the Northern Dimension partnership."

The Baltic Sea Pipeline is a planned natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany by the company Nord Stream AG.