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An interesting question is why are there reactions from Brussels? The truth is that if there is no compliance with the European law in the field of energy, then a country’s own pipelines become an instrument of the monopolistic or oligopolistic dependence of the customer on the supplier - the construction of gas pipelines is accompanied by long-term contracts that usually involve onerous covenants for the customer. An example of this is the case of Greece that in the recent past was buying natural gas at much higher prices compared to the countries where there was competition and a free market. On the other hand, with regard to the construction of Gazprom’s own pipelines, the Russian side is overcoming the recent efforts by European countries to differentiate the sources of energy supply. Experts note that while the project for the Nabucco pipeline existed (which would connect the Caspian Sea and Central Europe passing through Bulgaria and the Balkans), South Stream that had a similar route was kept alive too. When the Nabucco project was terminated and TAP that passes through Greek territory was eventually selected, Russia chose the pipeline Turkish Stream that has a similar route as well. For some it is not at all accidental, since both projects are considered to be directly competing. The Russian side and the Greek government have publicly stated that they disagree with this approach. Brussels and Washington (which closely follows the developments in the energy field in the region of Eurasia, stimulating energy security policy and differentiation of energy suppliers) have a completely different position. Therefore, the European Commission but also the US State Department has expressed a clear position against all parties involved, including Turkey and Greece. It is indicated, however, that if there is a different approach and compliance with European law in terms of energy and competition, then the case totally changes as well as the parameters of the equation.

The German Nord Stream

Yesterday the Greek Prime Minister however stressed in a statement that Greece would respect the European law and treaties that "are impossible to allow some countries, and not to allow others, to have agreements in the field of energy." This statement is a clear criticism of the Russian gas pipeline that involves Gazprom and other European companies, and that ends in Germany, namely Nord Stream. Indeed, this pipeline is permitted by the European Union and has been given an exclusive licence to transport Russian gas.

The difference, however, is that the construction of Nord Stream and the issuance of its licence was followed by the voting and enacting (with the support of Greece at that) of the notorious Third Energy Package, i.e. the currently effective energy treaty of the European Union, which no longer permits the construction of such projects with exclusive access of only one producer-supplier.

Turkish Stream project

One of the main routes for the export of Russian gas to Europe and the Balkans passes through the Ukrainian pipeline network. Due to the continuous crises between Moscow and Kiev, Russia decided ten years ago to bypass Ukraine with the help of two pipelines, namely Nord Stream that stretches from the North Sea to Germany, and South Stream that, by crossing the Black Sea, would have reached Bulgaria and thence, by crossing a number of countries in South East Europe, would have reached central Europe. However, the plans changed after the refusal of Brussels to issue a licence for South Stream but also after the developments associated with the TAP pipeline, which will be the first pipeline carrying 10 billion cubic metres of non-Russian gas to the Balkans (Greece , Bulgaria, Albania and possibly other countries such as Montenegro and Croatia). It has been decided to use the existing infrastructure and the pipes that have already been bought for South Stream in the Black Sea by moving the endpoint of the gas pipeline in eastern Thrace. From there, the pipeline will continue and will carry natural gas to the Greek-Turkish border. The Greek section will cross Macedonia, supplying gas to Skopje and from there, to Serbia, Hungary and to the ultimate goal, i.e. Austria and the distribution unit Baumbarden. The capacity of Turkish Stream will be 47 billion cubic metres or almost five times greater than that of the TAP pipeline. The precondition for the construction of Turkish Stream is to find buyers and, of course, to be approved by the relevant authorities in Greece and Europe.