International Consultation & Espoo-Process

The Nord Stream Pipeline will pass through the Exclusive Economic Zones and/or territorial waters of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. These countries are defined by the Espoo Convention as “parties of origin.” Since all nine littoral states of the Baltic Sea might be affected by the impact of the pipeline, they are all considered “affected parties.”

International consultations

The international consultation process according to the Espoo Convention has the purpose of giving all countries concerned by the Nord Stream pipeline the opportunity to review its potential impact. Fourteen Espoo meetings with representatives of all of the Baltic Sea states have been conducted since April 2006. Accordingly, designated country representatives have been meeting regularly with one another and Nord Stream as project developer to track the progress of the preparation of the Nord Stream Espoo Report, which describes the potential environmental impact of the project across all countries along the whole pipeline route. Common further steps in the planning and approval procedures were co-ordinated at these meetings The outcome of the international consultations will be accounted for in the national permitting procedures.

Public consultation

As part of the consultation process, Nord Stream participated in more than 20 public hearings and numerous meetings with relevant authorities in the various countries. These consultations resulted in more than 200 comments from private and public bodies in the Baltic Sea countries.

Many comments focus on the impact on the seabed and commercial fisheries as well as dumped and residual munitions – issues which Nord Stream and its shareholders have addressed and researched. The comments will be considered in the Nord Stream Espoo Report.