Polish-Norwegian Baltic Pipe talks

On Friday, 10^th of February, in Warsaw, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Witold Waszczykowski hosted Norwegian head of diplomacy Børge Brende. Among the key topics planned for discussion at the meeting were energy projects with participation of both countries (in particular Baltic Pipe within the concept of the North Corridor) as well as the situation of Polish diaspora in Norway.

Baltic Pipe, a planned gas pipeline connecting Denmark and Poland, is to link Polish and Danish transmission system. The agreement on its construction was signed in 2007 by PGNiG, Gaz-System gas transmission operator and Danish company Energinet.dk.

The gas pipeline, currently in the pre-investment stage, is to diversify gas supplies to Poland. PGNiG plans to start using the pipeline by 2022. It should be noted that the plans for building the pipeline aroused concern in the Russian press. Brende confirmed that Baltic Pipe project constitutes a chance for Norway to increase export of gas to Europe. He noted that his role as the minister of foreign affairs is creating good atmosphere for talks and declared he is not authorised to broadly comment on the situation.

As Joanna Wajda, Ministry of Foreign Affair’s spokesperson, had informed before the meeting, the ministers were to discuss bilateral cooperation and perspectives for tightening it, especially with regard to energy issues. A dynamic area of dialogue is to be also cooperation within the Norwegian Financing Mechanism and EOG Financial Mechanism. During the preparations for the visit the strategy to tighten cooperation with Poland approved by the Norwegian government in 2016 was highlighted, which had been a confirmation of very good bilateral relations.