TAP is a natural gas pipeline project. The pipeline will start in Greece, cross Albania and the Adriatic Sea and come ashore in southern Italy, allowing gas to flow directly from the Caspian region to European markets.

The four countries supported the project several weeks before the Shah Deniz 2 consortium is expected to decide which pipeline will be used for the gas flow to Europe -- TAP or Nabucco west.

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said in Brussels on Wednesday that Croatia is particularly interested in TAP’s routing as it can facilitate gas supply to several South Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia.

Designed to expand the capacity from 10 to 20 bcm per year, TAP will open up the so-called Southern Gas Corridor, enhancing Europe's energy security by providing a new source of gas.

TAP’s shareholders are Axpo of Switzerland (42.5%), Norway’s Statoil (42.5%) and E.ON of Germany (15%). Shah Deniz Consortium members – BP, SOCAR and Total - have the option to join TAP, if it is selected in June 2013 as the gas transportation route to Europe, and they are currently funding the development of the TAP project.