The German economy minister has warned of “severe consequences” for the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
The German Economy Minister, environmentalist Robert Habeck, warned in an interview this Saturday, December 18, of “severe consequences” for the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the event of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
“Any new military action cannot be without serious consequences. And nothing should be excluded ”in the case of a“ new violation of the integrity of the territory ”of Ukraine, the minister told the Sunday edition of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, when asked about a possible failure of Nord Stream 2.
The new German government of the Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, in power for two weeks, was firm before Moscow in relation to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, although the new chancellor is so far more evasive than his green allies such as Habeck or the new Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock.
In the event of an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, Baerbock simply threatened to “stop” the gas pipeline.
Westerners have accused Russia for several weeks of having concentrated thousands of soldiers near the Ukrainian borders to prepare an attack.
Russia rejects all the accusations and assures instead that it is under threat from NATO, which according to Moscow, supports Ukraine militarily.
The 1,200-kilometer pipeline, which runs under the Baltic Sea, from Russia to northeast Germany, was always defended by former Conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, despite criticism from her European and American partners.
“From a geopolitical point of view, Nord Stream 2 was a mistake,” Habeck estimated in the interview. “All countries have always been against it, except Germany and Austria,” he recalled.
“The gas pipeline is already built. And the question of its implementation remains open and must be decided in accordance with European and German legislation, “he added.
Formally, a decision on its certification is not expected before mid-2022, according to the German energy regulator, which temporarily suspended the procedure this fall over a legal hurdle.
Before being put into service, the German authorities must give their green light. Furthermore, the European Commission must also approve it. (I)
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