Nord Stream points out that the participation of Gasunie underlines the European character of the project, and strengthens the Russian-European energy partnership. Matthias Warnig, Nord Stream's managing director said: "Nord Stream welcomes the agreement between Gazprom and Gasunie and looks forward to its new Dutch shareholder. As a company specializing in gas infrastructure, Gasunie will make an essential contribution to our goal of securing Europe's future energy supply." Echoing these sentiments, Marcel Kramer, chairman of the executive board and CEO of Gasunie said: "Gasunie's participation as a fourth partner underlines the broad European scope of this important infrastructure project." In 2000, the European Commission declared Nord Stream a priority energy project in its guidelines on Trans European Energy Networks (TEN-E). Gas import of the European Union is projected to grow by approximately 200bn cum in the next decade, to almost 550bn cum/yr in 2015, which is over 50% higher than the existing import level. By connecting the world's largest gas reserves to the European gas pipeline network, Nord Stream will meet about 25% this additional requirement of imported gas, which will be used to supply Denmark, the UK, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, among other countries. As part of this agreement, Gazprom now has the option to acquire a 9% share in the 230-km long Balgzand-Bacton-Pipeline (BBL) from Gasunie, through which gas from Russia can also be transported to the UK. This 230-km long, 36-in diameter, pipeline, co-owned by Gasunie (60%), E.ON Ruhrgas(20%), and Fluxys (20%), started operation just about a year ago, in December, 2006.