/ world today news/ Deputies in the European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution on Thursday (January 21) in which they call on the EU countries to prevent the construction of new gas pipelines from Russia, bypassing Ukraine, and in particular “Nord Stream-2”, it is said in a press release published on the EP website, quoted by “Vzglyad”.
The resolution also condemns Moscow’s decision to close the free trade area with Ukraine with the entry into force of the free trade area agreement between Ukraine and the EU.
The MEPs “condemned the severe trade restrictions” on the import of Ukrainian goods to Russia, expressed concern about Ukraine’s economic and financial situation and confirmed the need for further financial support for Kyiv from the EU.
The European Parliament expressed hope that the Ukrainian authorities “will fulfill the commitments made to fight against “pervasive” corruption, which is the main obstacle to the country’s efforts to implement reforms.”
The resolution also states that Russia “must end its direct or indirect involvement in the conflicts in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as stop its interference in their quest for membership in the European Union.” In addition, the MEPs call on Russia “to end its direct or indirect involvement in the territory of the three countries”.
Earlier today, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and American Vice President Joseph Biden discussed the Nord Stream 2 project in Davos and outlined actions to prevent its implementation.
On Monday, the chairman of Gazprom’s Board of Directors, Alexey Miller, announced that the company’s supplies to the far abroad from January 1 to 16, 2016, increased by 29.4% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 7 .75 billion cubic meters. According to Miller, the increased demand for Russian gas in Europe confirms the importance of the Nord Stream 2 project.
Last December, Russian Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukaev said that if the EU abandons Nord Stream 2, it will “shoot itself in the foot”, since the main goal of the project is to guarantee Europe’s energy security.
On December 18, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stood up for the interests of Ukraine and stated that the country should retain its role as a transit country during the implementation of Nord Stream 2.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk estimated that the project would deprive his country of $2.2 billion in gas transit revenue.
According to the same scheme, two years ago, the EU put pressure on the member states to stop the South Stream gas pipeline, with Bulgaria being the main victim of the decision.
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