“Headache”: Bundestag Deputy Roth “recognized” the political effect of Nord Stream 2 – Rosbalt

The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project is not exclusively economic, as political factors also play a role. This was stated in an interview with Deutschlandfunk by the head of the Bundestag Foreign Policy Committee, Social Democrat Michael Roth.

“I have to admit … that Nord Stream 2 is not an exclusively economic project, because when companies from 12 member states of the European Union participate in it, then, of course, it has a political effect, and this is a topic that brings many people to The European Union has a headache, “RIA Novosti quotes the deputy.

Note that earlier the Vice-Chancellor of Germany, Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection of the country Robert Habek considered the Nord Stream-2 project a geopolitical mistake of Germany.

As he stated in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, all European countries, except Germany and Austria, were always against him. “Now the pipeline has been built. It is unclear whether he will be able to get started. On this issue, a decision must be made in accordance with European and national legislation, ”the minister said.

Recall that Nord Stream 2, which runs along the bottom of the Baltic Sea, is intended for direct delivery of gas from suppliers in the Russian Federation to consumers in Europe. The estimated capacity of the pipeline is 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. European partners – Royal Dutch Shell, OMV, Engie, Uniper and Wintershall – are financing the project by 50% in total, that is, up to 950 million euros each. This project is an alternative option for the supply of “blue fuel” to Europe. The gas pipeline bypasses transit states – Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and other Eastern European and Baltic countries – through the economic zones and territorial waters of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The construction of the first string of Nord Stream 2 was completed on June 4, 2021, and the second in September.

Initially, the pipeline was planned to be completed at the end of 2019, but construction was hampered by US sanctions. Washington regards Nord Stream 2 as a threat to Europe’s energy security. In turn, Germany opposes US sanctions, considering US policy as interference in the country’s internal affairs, points out RBC.

On November 8, the deputy head of the Gazprom department, Aleksey Finikov, announced that the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was completed and it was ready to be launched. “The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has been completed and is ready to launch,” the top manager emphasized during a closed meeting with investors.

Meanwhile, to start deliveries, Nord Stream 2 AG must be certified as a pipeline operator. This procedure consists of two stages: first, the German regulator will develop a draft decision, then the European Commission will evaluate it. Berlin has already received a full package of necessary documents from Moscow.