The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is Russia’s “blackmail tool” against Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki expressed hope that the German German government would change its position on the disputed Nord Stream 2 pipeline and accused Moscow of using the pipeline as a weapon against Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, informs dpa, quoted by Agerpres.
“I would expect the new German government to do everything possible to prevent Nord Stream 2 from being an instrument in the arsenal of (Russian President) Putin,” Morawiecki said in an interview with the German news agency published on Sunday.
This pipeline has become “a tool to blackmail Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova,” the Polish prime minister added. “It is also a tool for manipulating energy prices.”
The 1230-kilometer pipeline across the Baltic Sea is meant to transport gas from Russia to Germany, bypassing Ukraine. Its construction has been completed, but the gas pipeline valves remain closed pending approval.
Last week, the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur, BNetzA) announced the suspension of the Nord Stream 2 approval procedure, citing the EU’s provision that the pipeline operator must be independent of the gas producer.
The operator, Nord Stream 2 AG, is a subsidiary of Russian energy giant Gazprom.
A new coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) is set to take over the government in Germany in early December.
Their governing agreement, revealed on Wednesday, does not directly mention Nord Stream 2, but stipulates that “European energy legislation also applies to Germany’s energy policy projects”.
Forms are especially important for Greens, suitable for negotiators, given that they opposed the project. The FDP is also skeptical, but the SPD is more open about this pipeline project.