Ukrainian president in Warsaw to meet with President Duda
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Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and Polish president Andrzej Duda met on Friday in Warsaw. They discussed their mutual concerns regarding the OPAL pipeline, the Polish press reported. The two stated their disappointment with the EU Commission recent decision to approve the pipeline, which, they say allows for more Russian natural gas to by-passes Ukraine on its way to western Europe. On October 28th, the EU Commission decided to change the terms of market access for 50 percent of the gas delivered through the pipeline, conceivably allowing companies outside of the EU to increase the amount of their gas delivered through the line.
They issued a joint statement, “We believe that this decision needs reconsidering, at the same time understanding that this step can be very difficult and painful. We are committed to defend our common interests, [and will use] for this purpose all appropriate legal means,” the presidents said. Duda and Poroshenko said that the decision of the European Commission undermines energy security for the EU. They fear that it may lead to weakening Ukraine’s gas transit system and unfairly distort competition in favour of Russia. The Commission, however, expressed that its decision will increase cross-border trade in Central Europe and grow market liquidity, allowing more private companies non-discriminatory access to delivery of gas. It maintained that the changes brought about by the decision will increase the EU’s energy security by allowing for improved competition on the Czech and other Central European markets.
The OPAL pipeline allows for the flow of natural gas through the eastern part of Germany. It connects with the existing Nord Stream 1 pipeline at the Baltic Sea. Presidents Poroshenko and Duda are concerned that it could serve as a basis for a future decision on the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
