European Union? officials and? Russia? have agreed on a deal on the use of? Germany's OPAL link to Gazprom's? Nord Stream? gas pipeline, a Russian energy ministry spokeswoman said.
No one from the? European Commission was available for immediate comment on the deal, which ends months of talks on the OPAL pipeline that runs from the offshore section of Nord Stream through Germany? to the Czech border.
A deal could help improve tense relations between? Russia? and the? EU, although the bigger issue of the European Commission's competition investigation into Gazprom is unresolved.
"The ministry and the EU have reached an agreement on the? OPAL pipeline. The agreement is to the satisfaction of both sides. They aim to sign the deal by the end of October," a Russian spokeswoman said late Monday.
Two EU sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a working party meeting had reached a political deal, which still needed legal endorsement.
Neither the Russian ministry nor the EU sources disclosed details and would not say whether? Russia was getting the full access to the pipeline that it had been demanding.
Relations between? Russia? and the? European Union? have been soured by EU efforts to introduce more competition and reduce Russian dominance of the bloc's gas market.
Gazprom's access to the 470-kilometer? OPAL pipeline? has been limited because of the EU's Third Energy Package legislation, which aims to prevent firms that already dominate supply from also controlling transport networks.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.