ECONOMY
EU ENERGY COMMISSIONER HIGHLIGHTS NABUCCO`S IMPORTANCE
Baku, July 28 (AZERTAC). The European Union`s Commissioner for Energy has stressed the importance of the Nabucco gas project, saying realizing it is among key priorities for the organization.
Gunther Oettinger spoke to an international forum in Odessa, Ukraine, on the theme “Promoting Energy Security and Investment in the Black Sea region: the Role of Multilateral Cooperation”.
“Nabucco delivers some of the strategic benefits that public policy demands. First of all, it tackles a public interest: the interest in energy security. In this regard, the gas markets isolation of the Central and Southern EU Member States is a concern to the Commission.”
“First, we will develop the Southern corridor in a manner that will balance the interests of the producing countries, of the transit countries and of the consumer countries, bearing in mind that several countries, like Turkey, are at the same time a consumer country and a transit country.”
The Commissioner said in the next 20 years the dependence of the European Union on imported energy resources would increase from 50 to 70 percent, stressing the necessity of finding new diversified routes.
Oettinger emphasized Azerbaijan`s role in the European energy security.
“Azerbaijan is a major energy player in the region and a key partner for the European Union. I was pleased to meet President Aliyev in Baku in April. I can confirm that our co-operation is built on solid foundations, underpinned by clear mutual interests.”
“The participation of Azerbaijan in the Eastern Partnership is a historic milestone and by signing the Southern Corridor Declaration in Prague, Azerbaijan has confirmed its critical role and commitment to building bridges to the EU. We are following closely the award of gas from Shah Deniz-2. The Commission has long underlined its interest in a strategic allocation of gas from Shah Deniz-2 that allows the Southern Gas Route to develop,” he noted.