The environmental organization ClientEarth - which has a branch in Poland - is protesting against gas projects supported by the Commission, such as the Baltic Pipe, which aims to help reducing dependence on Russia, said an energy analyst from the Jagiellonian Institute in Poland, Wojciech Jakobik, on Thursday.

Jakobik, who is also the editor of Biznesalert, a source on key energy and infrastructure issues in Poland said 'ClientEarth uses environmental arguments, but the Kremlin does not care about the nature and murders people. It is worth remembering.'

ClientEarth's law firm, which is operational in more than 50 countries with offices in Berlin, Warsaw, Poland and London said on June 7 that it is starting legal action against the EU Commission for supporting 30 gas projects across Europe.

'We believe that the EU Commission is breaching its own climate and energy laws by including 30 gas projects in the list, which will benefit from massive public support. So together with our partners, Friends of the Earth Europe, Food and Water Action Europe and CEE Bankwatch Network we are beginning legal action to end EU support for the projects,' the company stated.

One of the 30 natural gas projects is Baltic Pipe project, which will carry Norwegian natural gas to Poland.

'I am surprised by this ClientEarth phrase. Baltic Pipe and other gas supply diversification projects are necessary to break dependence on Russia. It would be best to abandon all fossil projects tomorrow, but for now it would end up with more gas from Russia,' Jakobik said.

According to the ClientEarth, the total cost of all projects on the current EC list amounts to €13 billion in EU taxpayers' money.

'Methane and CO2 emissions are harder to estimate - because the Commission and the project owners have not calculated them properly - but they will undoubtedly be sky high,' the organization said.

By Murat Temizer

Anadolu Agency

energy@aa.com.tr