Russia, Slovenia Sign South Stream Pipe Deal

Slovenia agreed today to take part in a pipeline project carrying Russian natural gas to Europe, The Associated Press reports.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and visiting Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor signed the deal for Russian gas to pass through Slovenia on its way to northern Italy.

South Stream is expected to come online in 2015 and will take Russian gas under the Black Sea -- bypassing current transit state Ukraine -- to enter the European Union through Bulgaria.

The pipeline is being funded by Russia's Gazprom and Italy's Eni state gas companies.