European Parliament supports NABUCCO Pipeline Project and calls for improved energy security policy

On 17th of September, European Parliament adopted a resolution, which urges the European Commission and the Council of the European Union for more decisive actions in order to prevent the future disruptions of energy security in Europe.

European Parliament confirmed its support for recently proposed Security of Gas Supply Directive of the EU and investments in energy infrastructure which is aimed at creating common European external energy security policy. In addition, MEPs called for reviewing the early warningmechanisms which proved ineffective in 2009 Russia-Ukraine gas crisis.

The resolution supports the NABUCCO pipeline project as it can help Europe to become less dependent on Russian gas. In addition, European Parliament asked the European Commission to "take action against hostile bids by non-transparent foreign entities in the EU market", referring to the case of Surgutneftegas, (Russian oil and gas company considered close to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin) which recently acquired 21.2% of Hungarian energy company MOL, with the aim of taking over this key member of the NABUCCO gas pipeline consortium.

The EP resolution also admits that EU’s dialogue with key energy suppliers should not take place at the expense of dialogues on human rights. Therefore Human rights and energy security should be a priority for the next EU-Russia summit and become an integral part of the new EU-Russia agreement.

The resolution of the European Parliament is attached.