Opposition leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski says that the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which will run from Vyborg in Russia to Greifswald in Germany, bypassing Poland, “breaks the idea of solidarity, one of the founding principles which underpin the EU”.

The chairman of the Law and Justice party was speaking at the "Implications and potential risks of the Nord Stream gas pipeline" conference in Szczecin, Monday.

The pipeline, which runs under the Baltic Sea and is 92 percent compete, should begin delivering Russian gas to European customers later this year.  

The second line is estimated to become operational in late 2012. The two lines will supply 55 billion cubic metres of Russian gas a year to the EU for at least 50 years, say the constructors.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski said that the construction of the pipeline, championed by Germany, will affect the development of the liquid gas terminal in Swinouscie, planned to be in operation in thee years time, and will reduce the depth of water leading to the terminal as Nord Stream will not be buried on the sea bed but will be floating in mid-water.

Environmentalist groups have also protested that the pipeline will affect marine life in the Baltic.

Last week Estonia gave a green light to the project, however.

The plan has been bitterly opposed, however, by some in Poland, which claims it threatens its energy security, saying that Central Europe will be omitted from the continent’s most important system of transporting gas. (pg)