White Stream II aims to sideline Nabucco

In the wake of an agreement between Romania, Georgia and Azerbaijan on the construction of a new pipeline to link Caspian Sea gas fields to Europe, România liberăannounces: "Romania achieves its goal of becoming the EU's Black Sea energy terminal." The White Stream II pipeline project, which the daily describes as "an ideal solution for Europe," will have the capacity to "transport 20 billion cubic metres of gas to the European Union starting in 2012" — enough to put an end to "Europe's dependence on supplies from Russia." The cost of the project — between 2 and 4 billion euros – makes it "the most attractive option for the EU." Though it should be noted that it will be in direct competition with the considerably more expensive Nabucco pipeline — from Iran to Central Europe via Turkey — which has already been the subject of hard-fought negotiations within the EU. Another advantage of the project, remarks *România lib*eră, "is the major positive impact it will have on Romania's geopolitical interests in the Black Sea."