Commenting on a proposal by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the drafting of a comprehensive energy treaty, Piebalgs said it was impossible to replace the Energy Charter now that it had been signed and ratified by several countries.
The original Energy Charter was signed in The Hague on December 17, 1991. By ratifying the treaty, Russia would have to give access to its pipelines for free natural gas transit from Central Asia to the European Union. However, Russian companies would not be able to freely access European pipelines.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday Russia saw no point in remaining a signatory to the 1991 Energy Charter, which it has not ratified. He also said that the new treaty proposed by Medvedev could contribute to the development of the energy industry in Europe, adding that the document could become a serious foundation for relations in the energy sphere.
European Commission Spokesman Ferran Tarradellas Espuny said Tuesday the commission believed the Energy Charter to be a good agreement but was open to a discussion of Russia's concerns.
