Dissatisfaction and disagreement among member states of the European Union begin to emerge stronger against a backdrop of tighter economic sanctions against Russia. One after the other, European countries are declining to participate in Europe's largest South Stream project, but, as in any rule, there are exceptions here. The government of Italy, by the way, the country currently holding the EU presidency, is not going to abandon the pipeline, and even openly supports the project. Speaking in Brussels, Italy's state secretary for EU affairs Sandro Gozi said “it [South Stream] would improve the diversification of gas routes to Europe". A few days ago, the EU Energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger called on the EU neighbors to suspend the construction of the gas pipeline until it meets EU standards. The official stressed that to continue building, the Russian side should accept the rules set by the Third Energy Package. The main stumbling block was the clause stipulating that one and the same company cannot be both the owner of a pipeline and the supplier of gas in the territory of the European Union. However, most independent observers agree that the construction work has been suspended because of Russia's re-joining of Crimea and fueling a geopolitical conflict in Eastern Europe. Given that the essentials of the Russian economy are the export of energy resources. The halted construction of South Stream can hit Russians in the pocket. South Stream is a gas pipeline being built to transport natural gas bypassing Ukraine, with which Russia has seriously deteriorated relations. The territories of Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy are included in the project.
