The Euro-Siberian Gas Pipeline Row: A Study in Community Development

Literature on the pipeline indicates a considerable confusion as to the name of the project, referred to variously as the 'Yamburg', 'Yamal' and 'Urengoi' pipeline. The original project, postponed in mid-1981. was to have drawn gas from the Yamburg fields, which were never, as it was assumed from the name, on the more northern Yamal Peninsula. By 1982, it was certain that the pipeline would draw its gas from the Urengoi fields on the Taz Peninsula, but former appellations often stuck.

It is important to keep in mind that non-EC 10 countries - Australia, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain — opened negotiations for Urengoi gas in 1982, and that Austria and Finland are the two non-Soviet bloc countries most dependent on Soviet energy; however, the transatlantic row over the pipeline was primarily one between the United States and its major European allies in the Community.

The turbine orders went to John Brown of Scotland (21 orders) and AEG-Kanis of Essen (47) — subcontractors for the Franco-German consortium of Creusot-Loire and Mannesmann - and to Nuovo Pignone of Italy (57). The compressor station orders were split by Nuovo Pignone (19) and a group of French firms under Creusot-Loire (22). Japanese and German firms shared the contracts for several million tonnes of largediametre steel pipe. Alsthom-Atlantique contracted to supply 40 spare sets of rotor kits.

The US announcement is reproduced in Keesing's Contemporary Archives (London: Longman's, 1982 ), p. 31457.

Richard M. Weintraub , 'Reagan says US, Allies Agree on Trade Policy', International Herald Tribune, 15 November 1982, p. 1.

Prepared statement by Donald Paul Hodel, US Secretary of Energy, to the Ministerial Meeting of the IEA (Paris, 8 May, 1983), United States Information Service, 9 May 1983, p. 3.

The reauthorisation of the Export Administration Act of 1979, passed in July 1985 after nearly two years of congressional deadlock, does impose some restrictions on the President's power to control exports for foreign policy purposes.

From the London Report of 13 October 1981, reproduced in Europel Documents, 17 October 1981.

Personal interviews with Commission officials, 24-28 March 1986.

William Wallace , 'Political Cooperation: Integration through Intergovernmentalism', in Helen Wallace , William Wallace and Carole Webb (eds.), Policy Making in the European Community 2nd ed. (Chichester, Sussex: John Wiley and Sons, 1983 ), p. 392.

The pipeline was a top item on the agenda according to Europe, 4 September 1982, p. 4. Furthermore, a Dutch spokesman stated in early September that the Netherlands would be raising the pipeline issue at the next EPC ministerial meeting. See Europe, 9 September 1982, p. 10. See also John Wyles , 'Ten lose chance to discuss Siberia pipeline options', Financial Times, 9 September 1982, p. 5.

European Parliament , Official Journal of the European Community, Annex, Nos. 1-289, 13 October 1982 , p. 108.

Wolfgang Wessels , 'Die Europaische Politische Zusammenarbeit ', in Werner Weidenfeld and Wolfgang Wessels (eds.). Jahrbuch der Europaischen Integration 1982 (Bonn, 1983), p. 231.

European Parliament , Debates, Official Journal of the European Communities, Information and Notices, C47, 17 Februaury 1983, p. 1.

John Wyles , 'US pipe ruling threat to stability, Community warns', Financial Times, 15 July 1982, p. 6.

Helen Wallace , 'Negotiation, Conflict, and Compromise: The Elusive Pursuit of Common Policies', in Wallace, Wallace and Webb, op. cit, p. 70.

And, specifically, to adopt a common credit and insurance policy. Peter Marsh , 'The European Community and East-West Economic Relations'. Journal of Common Market Studies (Vol. 23, No. 1, 1984-85). p. 1, with reference to EP resolution C.292 in OJ (1982).

My emphasis. The conclusions of the European Council are reproduced in full in Europe, 30 June 1982, pp. 5-6.

Emmanuele Gazzo , 'The Community after the European Council: Fear of "politics"?' Editorial, Europe, 30 June 1982, p. 1.

Europe, 30 July 1982, p. 6.

Europe, 21 July 1982, p. 5.

Helen Wallace , op. cit, p. 69.

Patrick Amoux , 'Gazoduc: Chevenement requisitionne,' L' Express, 3 September 1982, p. 56.

Personal interview with Helen Wallace, 13 February 1986.

'No Samaritans', The Economist, 9 January 1982, p. 30 quoting deputy SPD leader Horst Ehmke.

See William Wallace , op. cit, p. 395.

Great Britain, House of Commons , Single European Act and Final Act. Cmnd. 9758, European Communities No. 12 (London : HMSO 1986), p. 20.

Television interview of 21 July 1982, reported in Keesing's Contemporary Archives (London: Longmans, 1982), pp. 31723-4.

Europe, 5 November 1982, p. 5. The occasion was the Committee's approval of the Haagerup Report, which called for increased security policy co-operation by the Ten.

Willy Brandt , People and Politics: The Years 1960-1975, trans. J. Maxwell Brownjohn (London: Collins , 1978), p. 239.

Don Oberdorfer , 'Equipment is shipped to Soviets'. The Washington Post, 27 August 1982, Sec. A, p. 37.