The EC insists on procedure of the acceptance by South Stream of the operation of the Third Energy Package, as the Trans Adriatic Pipeline

The European Commission insists on procedure of the acceptance of South Stream of the operation of the Third Energy Package on the model of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), a source, familiar with the content of the negotiations, reported.

"TAP and South Stream cross the territory of the EU and countries that signed the contract on Energy Community. The article 36 of the Third Energy Package’s Gas Directive provides for the possibility of temporary exemptions from regulatory practice for both projects," - the EC reported.

“The European Commission considers this variant as the only possible," - says the source, noting that the Russian side isn’t ready to apply to the European Commission with request for the exemption for a while.