Just as it began to seem as though they might never get around to it, EU ministers have announced an agreement on how to spend their €5 billion of energy project funds – including a €200 million allocation for the Nabucco project. Radio Free Europe reports:
Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra said the energy investments are a “clear reaction” to this winter’s gas crisis.
After the interruption of Russian gas deliveries via Ukraine in early January, the lack of interconnection between national networks in EU countries was identified as a major reason for the EU’s vulnerability to delivery shortages.
The investments in the EU’s energy infrastructure are meant to make the bloc safer against outside pressure. The investments will, Vondra said, “strengthen our energy security.”
So, they’ve agreed on how to spend the fund…let’s hope the implementation is more straightforward.