INTERVIEW WITH SEBASTIAN SASS, HEAD OF NORD STREAM'S EU REPRESENTATION : NORD STREAM CONFIDENT OF GETTING ALL CONSTRUCTION PERMITS.

Nord Stream's EU head Sebastian Sass is confident that the contentious Baltic Sea pipeline will finally complete its consultation procedure by the end of summer. He sees Nord Stream - a priority EU project under the Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E) since 2006 - gaining all the necessary construction permits from the five concerned countries (Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany), possibly before the end of the year. Construction of the pipeline, which should from 2011 bring gas from Russia to Germany, could begin in the first half of 2010.

How involved has the European Commission been in the Nord Stream project?

This is the most comprehensive consultation procedure ever in the Baltic area. It is covered by the Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment, which is part of the EU acquis. It has been adopted by the EU. This means the Commission is very interested in seeing that EU legislation is observed. We are in contact with the respective EU DGs. For the first time, we have managed to apply common standards on an infrastructure project in the Baltic region and have agreed on one consultation to go for the countries. Previously, there would have been numerous documents. This is a great improvement in terms of transparency.

Is Russia not cherry picking by only applying the Espoo Convention for Nord Stream?

I see your point. But in the case of our project, Russia is applying the convention in its entirety. Whether or not it will do so with similar projects, Nord Stream AG does not have any influence. As far as we can deliver, we have facilitated a procedure where everybody can stay on board. Espoo is also part of the EU acquis. So this means Russia is applying EU environmental standards as regards consultation in this project.