ROSYJSKO-NIEMIECKI GAZOCIĄG PÓŁNOCNY W KONTEKŚCIE PRAWA MIĘDZYNARODOWEGO PUBLICZNEGO

Abstract

The authors analyse the issue of the Northern Gas Pipeline construction through the Baltic Sea from the perspective o f international public law, Polish law and the interest of international society as a community. Poland is a reliable and stable partner and it is in Russias best interest to lay a cheaper Gas Pipeline passing through Poland’s land area. Therefore it is a diplomatic challenge for Poland to convince the international community that Russia’s plans related to the Northern Gas Pipeline are not based on economic premises. Poland’s economic and political interest requires taking on that challenge, even though Russia has no strong traditions in the sphere o f sensitive diplomatic actions. Unfortunately, the problem of the Northern Gas Pipeline does not lie merely in the legal sphere, and the spheres o f politics and law blend, blurring the internal boundaries. Key words: Northern Gas Pipeline, right to lay under-sea installations, law of the sea, common interest of the Baltic states, exclusive economic zone.