Hansard

Energy: Nabucco Gas Pipeline

Volume 703: debated on Monday 7 July 2008

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Lord Dykes

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will support the European Union-sponsored Nabucco gas pipeline project between Iran and Vienna. [HL4424]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office & Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
(Lord Jones of Birmingham)

The Nabucco project, which is planned to run from Turkey to Austria, has been designated a project of European interest by the European Commission. The Government support the project, being in line with the EU and UK policy of diversifying both sources of supply and supply routes. However, we consider that the building of infrastructure should be primarily driven by commercial considerations, with the role of Governments best focused on removing regulatory and other barriers to investment.