WRITTEN QUESTION E-0036/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(19 January 2000)

Subject: Constanta-Trieste oil pipeline project

According to various reports in the press, two projects for the construction of a new oil pipeline linking the Romanian port of Constanta to the Italian port of Trieste are currently under examination, one by the Italian company ENI and one by an American consortium. The pipeline would cross Hungary and Slovenia and would also provide oil to these two applicant countries.

Does the Commission not think it would be advisable to support the construction of this pipeline, particularly in the light of recent ecological disasters, such as the oil slicks in the Vendée and the Bosphorus strait, and also in order to promote improved access to the Transcaucasus, the diversification of energy supply routes for the countries of central and south-east Europe and the development of the ports of Supsa and Constanta?

Has the Commission already taken or does it intend to take any initiatives on this matter?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 2000)

The Commission recognises the importance of the Constanta-Trieste oil pipeline for reducing environmental risks associated with transporting oil across the Bosphorus, and for diversifying the energy supply base of the countries of South Eastern Europe by giving them access to the resources of the Caspian region, inter alia via the Trans-Caucasian corridor and the seaports of the west coast of the Black Sea, including the oil port of Constanta.

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member of the Community's position on the importance of resources from the Caspian Sea region for European energy supplies, the need to have a number of safe supply routes to the European and international markets, and the importance of investors building such routes on the basis of commercial criteria.

Consequently, in view of the impending enlargement of the Community and in the interests of secure energy supplies, the Commission has been implementing an interstate technical assistance programme (Inogate-Interstate oil and gas transport to Europe) since 1995, being aware of the need to facilitate the integration of oil transport networks between the former Soviet Union, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Community.

The aim of the programme is to develop cooperation between the countries in these regions to create the conditions to attract public and private investment in the rehabilitation and modernisation of existing networks and the development of new technically and economically viable and environmentally sound routes.

In institutional terms the programme has enabled a new system to be developed for cross-border transport of oil and gas compatible with international standards: the Inogate Umbrella Agreement. This has so far been signed by representatives of the Governments of 16 countries in Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and Eastern Europe (accession candidates, including Romania) and the Balkans.

It has facilitated the emergence of a variety of projects linking the Caspian Basin to European markets via the Trans-Caucasian corridor, the port of Supsa and ports on the Western shore of the Black Sea. These included the Constanta-Trieste, Odessa-Gdansk, Burgas-Alexandropoulis and Burgas-Vlore projects. Although it does not wish to express any preferences, the Commission recognises the importance of the Constanta-Trieste project for the markets of South-Eastern Europe.

The Romanian authorities intend to organise a meeting under the Inogate Agreement in the near future bringing together the industry ministers of the countries which might be concerned by the corridor to identify the institutional and technical pre-conditions before submitting the final project to interested private and institutional investors.

The Commission is willing to provide technical assistance under the Inogate programme to the Governments of Romania and any other countries that may be involved to help prepare and, if it is adopted, implement the project.