South Stream Support Could Further Fragment the EU

EU institutions and some countries in Central and Eastern Europe keep moving in their own directions regarding relations with Russia. In recent months, the South Stream pipeline — which could bring Russian natural gas to countries in the Balkans and Central Europe, bypassing Ukraine — has become a source of friction between Brussels and Moscow as well as between the European Union and the member states involved in the project. Bulgaria has been pushing for the construction of the pipeline despite warnings by the EU Commission that it could go against European norms. Austria recently also regained interest in the project. 

The Ukraine crisis is deepening existing divisions within the European Union, and the debate over South Stream — where some member states are putting their national interests ahead of Brussels' policies — is a perfect illustration. From a broader perspective, the South Stream issue also shows the extent to which members are willing to challenge the authority of EU institutions. These episodes will become more frequent as Europe's political fragmentation deepens.