Gas has begun to flow along a major new pipeline¹ connecting Russia and the EU.

一条贯通俄罗斯与欧盟的新管道开始运送天然气。

European leaders welcomed the opening of the Nord Stream pipeline at a ceremony on the Baltic Sea
The Nord Stream project was formally opened at a ceremony in Germany attended by Chancellor² Angela Merkel and Russian President Dimitry Medvedev.

The pipeline allows Siberian gas to flow directly to Germany, via twin pipelines³ under the Baltic Sea.

The new route means Russia can bypass（绕开，忽视） traditional transit⁴ countries such as Ukraine and Poland, which have strained（紧张的） relations with Moscow.

The pipeline's opening ceremy took place in the Geman town of Lubmin, where heads of state involved in the project opened a tap to release the first of the gas into the European grid⁵.

Energy milestone⁶

Chanceller Merkel described the project as a "milestone in energy cooperation" and the "basis of a reliable partnership⁷" between Russia and Europe.

Although the project will only reach full capacity next year, it is already politically sensitive. Russia is Europe's primary energy supplier, and the new pipeline is likely to increase that dependence⁸.

The new route also has strategic implications for Moscow.

At present, 80% of Russian gas exports to the EU flow through pipelines across Ukrainian soil, a source of ongoing⁹ tension. In 2009, disputes between Moscow and Kiev over the status of this network led Russia to cut off gas to Ukraine during winter.

Poland, another transit country for Russian pipelines, is also in dispute with Moscow over gas. On 7 November, Polish gas monopoly（垄断） PGNiG filed an arbitration¹⁰（公断，仲裁） procedure against Russia gas giant Gazprom to demand a discount on gas imports.