The development of gas resources in Russia and the expansion of gas infrastructure have key significance in covering additional demand on the natural gas market, and also for ensuring the reliability and security of the gas supply in the Federal Republic of Germany and Europe as a whole. Proceeding from this assumption, President Vladimir Putin and Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder support increasing ties between the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Germany in the gas energy sphere.
In connection with this, President Putin and Federal Chancellor Schroeder welcome the intention of Gazprom and E.ON AG to work together in joint enterprises, primarily:
in extraction of natural gas and production of electrical energy;
in building a gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea;
in widening the infrastructure for selling Russian natural gas in the Federal Republic of Germany and in Europe as a whole, and also
in realizing joint projects in gas electric power stations on the European market.
Mr Putin and Mr Schroder attach great importance to this cooperation on the level of enterprises. The governments of both countries will work closely on issues concerning these projects, and regularly exchange information on their realisation, in order to minimise non-commercial risks as much as possible, and also to assist in removing obstacles on the European level that hinder successful realisation of these projects.