EU Energy Commissioner, Günter Oettinger, welcomed the conclusion of a political agreement on the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The pipeline connects Italy, Albania and Greece. The projects aims at obtaining gas directly from the Caspian region and reducing EU dependency on gas imported from Russia. The agreement allows the detailed permitting and regulatory procedures to go ahead, and paves the way for a formal inter-governmental agreement setting out the legal framework for the TAP pipeline construction.
The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline starts in Komotini/Greece and goes via Albania to Italy. In the beginning of 2012, TAP has been selected by the Shah Deniz Consortium in Azerbaijan as preferred gas transportation for the Southern route. It has also selected Nabucco West as preferred partner for the distribution of gas within Central Europe. Whatever the final decision taken (one or more pipelines), there will be an unbroken system of pipelines that will be built from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
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