While there is no easing on the political level between the European Union and Russia, the relationship on the Gassector has now come unexpectedly after a long period of stalemate. According to various insider information, two major conflict points are to be solved before the end of the month.

The first breakthrough - a stronger right of access from Gazprom to the German gas pipeline Opal - should be achieved on Friday according to information from the agency Reuters. This is about the fact that Gazprom can offer an additional 30 to 40 percent of the delivery capacity of Opal. So far this has already been true for half of the volume.

If Gazprom succeeds, this would be a surprising twist in a relationship that has been submerged for years. So far, the EU has been facing increased use by the Russian company for fear of too much control of infrastructure by utilities. Gazprom had already agreed with the German Federal Network Agency in 2013 that it would be able to make full use of the Opal pipeline, which was built as an extension of the Nord-Stream Eastern Seepipeline.

But since Russia shortly after annexed the Crimea and supported the separatists in the Eastern Ukraine, the question of gas became a political issue, and Brussels said no. Since then, the pipeline, which could transport 36 billion cubic meters of gas annually, which corresponds to about two-fifths of the German annual consumption, remained half empty.