[lobo221]

Sir, Tony Barber, in “Only Germany can tame east-west tensions in Europe” (January 20) rightly points out that “Nord Stream 2 is not an inherently west-east clash”. No, it is much more: a matter of market economy principles, energy security and EU solidarity.
Everything is wrong with Nord Stream 2. Russia’s Gazprom wants to concentrate 90 per cent of its exports of gas to Europe to one pipeline to Germany, to wean over that country while undermining European supply security.

Five big European energy companies have ganged up with Gazprom to defeat the EU energy union in favour of their own oligopoly, hurting European consumers with high prices, poor services and no choice. Curiously, Germany’s social democratic vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has joined them and Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.
All EU countries but Germany with one or two allies favour an open European energy market with multiple suppliers, many sources of energy, and ever more renewable energy to create a viable market. Germany is not the solution but the problem in this drama. Excessive German power has led its vice-chancellor to promote Nord Stream 2, disregarding EU energy policy.

Anders Åslund
Atlantic Council,
Washington, DC, US

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[lobo221]

The gas pipeline project, Nord Stream-2, is gradually being implemented, despite protests by Ukraine, the Baltic countries and Poland, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported.

“The pipes that were ordered have been delivered and the tender request for the pipe laying has been made. This has all been done with the approval of the German government and despite the sanctions against Russia,” Radio Poland quoted the German newspaper as saying.

According to the newspaper, intensive preparations for the implementation of the project are continuing in Germany. The search for the best location for the pipeline also continues in the vicinity of the town of Greifswald. Gascade, a subsidiary company of Russia’s Gazprom, and the German company of Wintershall are conducting intensive preparations to begin construction. The new gas pipeline will connect Greifswald, which is located on Germany’s eastern border, with the Czech Republic.

“This is purely an economic project for us. Therefore, Nord Stream-2 should be evaluated from an economic point of view,” Sueddeutsche Zeitung quoted the German Minister of Economy, Sigmar Gabriel, as saying.

The newspaper also said that Gabriel has invested “big political capital” into this project and mentioned the politician’s visit to Moscow last year. It was there that Gabriel spoke about the partial lifting of sanctions for the first time. He also suggested that the two countries should resolve the issues related to energy supply between each other and avoid “political interference” from the outside.

The newspaper noted that the so-called Third Energy Package of the European Union provides for the separation of gas sales from the supplier, as well as providing access to the gas transport infrastructure to a larger number of operators. Nord Stream-2 will violate these provisions. The newspaper also stated that because the pipeline will be placed in international waters, it will make it difficult to stall or delay the project.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung suggested that the LNG terminals in Poland and Lithuania could become unprofitable as a result of the new pipeline. In addition, Gazprom’s position in the European market will also be strengthened, which will increase Europe’s dependence on Russian gas.

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[lobo221]

Nord stream 2 is already being build, without waiting for the consent of the EU, regardless of the political turmoil, or the lack of official permits begins the construction of another two strands of German-Russian gas pipeline. What's interesting this time did not protest even extremely active in such cases - environmentalists.
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[Oswald2001]

Germany was the main problem in Western Europe which caused WWI.

Germany was the main problem in Western Europe which caused WWII.

Germany is TODAY the main problem in Western Europe which may end up causing WWIII.

[kleinephoenix]

oh if only i could have a share