NOVO-OGARYOVO, March 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday the construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline will proceed in line with the schedule.

"I will say once again that we are firm in our intention to continue joint construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in line with the plans and the schedule," Putin told journalists after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Russian energy giant Gazprom is building the pipeline together with Germany's E.ON under the Baltic Sea to pump Russian natural gas to Germany.

Merkel said in turn that Germany regards the project as a very important one for Europe's energy security. She also said other EU countries should not suffer from the project implementation and should "be able to participate."