Leaders of participating states and shareholders of the Nord Stream project on Tuesday opened a symbolic shut-off valve for the gas pipeline through which Russian gas will flow to Europe, bypassing transit countries.

The solemn ceremony in the city of Lubmin in the north-east of Germany was attended by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prime Ministers of the Netherlands and France Mark Rutte and Francois Fillon, as well as European Commissioner for Energy Günter Oettinger.

The Russian leader expressed confidence that Nord Stream marks a new stage in relations between the Russian Federation and the European Union. He recalled that through the gas pipeline, gas from the Russian Federation “will flow directly to EU countries for the first time.”

According to Medvedev, Moscow expects the European Union to overcome current economic difficulties and increase demand to 200 billion cubic meters by 2020.

The President of the Russian Federation also recalled that Russia is interested in participating in the development of energy capacities and gas distribution infrastructure of European partner countries. “We hope that there will be no artificial barriers on this path of cooperation, despite the different approaches that are being voiced,” Interfax quotes Medvedev .

The capacity of the first line of Nord Stream, built in a year and a half, is 27.5 billion cubic meters per year. In a year, the project's capacity will be doubled. Nord Stream will account for about a third of Russian gas supplies to non-CIS countries – about 55 billion cubic meters per year.

The project is being implemented by the joint venture Nord Stream AG . Gazprom owns 51%, German Wintershall and E.ON Ruhrgas - 15.5% each, Dutch Gasunie and French GDF Suez - 9% each. In September, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin estimated the cost of the gas pipeline at €8.8 billion.

Nord Stream is laid through the Baltic Sea from Portovaya Bay near Vyborg to the coast of Germany. The length of the gas pipeline is a record 1,224 km.

Medvedev and Merkel launched the operation of Nord Stream