Russia and Austria set up joint South Stream company

South Stream 1, the European Commission 0. Again.

I'd love to see Brussels and Washington try to threaten Vienna how they have threatend other partners in the South Stream project. South Stream is very good for all the states involved and also means less sucking at the Brussels teat, yet Brussels and Washington seem to think that poor countries of southern europe have to take a hit for EU political unity.

It's a massive own goal for Brussels that only makes it look worse to the citizens of those countries. Joining the EU was supposed to enrich and improve life for EU citizens, not to stop them from doing so.

The other massive own goal will be if Jean-Claude Juncker becomes Commission President. He would be a terrible figurehead for the EU. His history of running a tax evading country, quasi-legal money laundering and circle-jerking his banking buddies, not to mention his 'help' in pushing for deregulation of banks etc. has been a disasater except for everyone who is rich.

And the majority center-right EPP grouping in the Euopean Parliament wants him as a figurehead? The same old faces returning again and again? what kind of image does that give about European democracy run from Brussels?


No wonder the EU is considered a kafkaesque joke. They gain more power but they can't manage transparency, corruption, rotating door jobs etc.

It's run like a private golf club. It's their 'Rule of Law'.

(EU Dude, 25 June 2014 13:33)
There is no reason for anyone to "threaten" Vienna, as they are well within the laws of the EU. See the issues in the other countries have all been to have any deals to be compliant with the law.

There is no reason for anyone to "threaten" Vienna, as they are well within the laws of the EU. See the issues in the other countries have all been to have any deals to be compliant with the law.
(much ado about nothing, 26 June 2014 15:28)

Brussels has been trying to treat South Stream as a purely EU project and thus subject to those strict rules (the energy convention) rather than the fact that it is a trans-European project (energy convention not ratified by Russia).

Bulgaria was targeted not because it is the most corrupt country in the EU but specifically because it is politically and economiaclly the weakest link. All the contracts with EU South Stream partners are transparent. Brussels is simply using the threat of suspending South Stream as leverage against Russia but has no clear legal grounds to do so. They certainly haven't announced apart from contract quibbles.

South Stream 1, the European Commission 0. Again.

I'd love to see Brussels and Washington try to threaten Vienna how they have threatend other partners in the South Stream project. South Stream is very good for all the states involved and also means less sucking at the Brussels teat, yet Brussels and Washington seem to think that poor countries of southern europe have to take a hit for EU political unity.

It's a massive own goal for Brussels that only makes it look worse to the citizens of those countries. Joining the EU was supposed to enrich and improve life for EU citizens, not to stop them from doing so.

The other massive own goal will be if Jean-Claude Juncker becomes Commission President. He would be a terrible figurehead for the EU. His history of running a tax evading country, quasi-legal money laundering and circle-jerking his banking buddies, not to mention his 'help' in pushing for deregulation of banks etc. has been a disasater except for everyone who is rich.

And the majority center-right EPP grouping in the Euopean Parliament wants him as a figurehead? The same old faces returning again and again? what kind of image does that give about European democracy run from Brussels?


No wonder the EU is considered a kafkaesque joke. They gain more power but they can't manage transparency, corruption, rotating door jobs etc.

It's run like a private golf club. It's their 'Rule of Law'.

There is no reason for anyone to "threaten" Vienna, as they are well within the laws of the EU. See the issues in the other countries have all been to have any deals to be compliant with the law.
(much ado about nothing, 26 June 2014 15:28)

Brussels has been trying to treat South Stream as a purely EU project and thus subject to those strict rules (the energy convention) rather than the fact that it is a trans-European project (energy convention not ratified by Russia).

Bulgaria was targeted not because it is the most corrupt country in the EU but specifically because it is politically and economiaclly the weakest link. All the contracts with EU South Stream partners are transparent. Brussels is simply using the threat of suspending South Stream as leverage against Russia but has no clear legal grounds to do so. They certainly haven't announced apart from contract quibbles.

(EU Dude, 25 June 2014 13:33)
There is no reason for anyone to "threaten" Vienna, as they are well within the laws of the EU. See the issues in the other countries have all been to have any deals to be compliant with the law.