Four EU countries and Turkey signed an agreement on building the Nabucco gas pipeline to reduce European reliance on Russia.
Danuta Isler reports
Backed by the US the conduit to be ready by 2014 is to be 3,300 km long and to pump 31 billion cubic meters of gas from the Caspian Sea region annually. Experts warned of overoptymism saying the pipeline's construction - although hailed as a political victory of the 27-member bloc - will not have a major influence on Poland's energy security.
Poland's deputy PM and economy minister Waldemar Pawlak said Poland would like to join in the 9 billion euros project but the country does not have high hopes connected with its prospects. According to experts, the Ankara agreement will not have direct influence on Poland while the remaining EU member states will have to wait for its possible long-term benefits. Also, the gas delivered through Nabucco pipeline would not be an alternative but a supplement to supplies from Russia which is caused by an increasing demand for gas in Europe.
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