Nord Stream 2
The politicised pipeline
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
In 2017, 36 percent of the natural gas used in Europe (excluding the CIS) came from Russia. In the future, a quarter of this amount could be supplied via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline below the Baltic Sea. Those who oppose the pipeline claim that it is not in harmony with the goals of European energy policy, does not take any account of environmental considerations, cements Germany’s dependence on Russia, increases the foreign policy leverage available to the Kremlin in relation to eastern Europe, allows Russia to invade Ukraine and is a lossmaking enterprise for Gazprom. None of these arguments are beyond dispute. However, in February 2019, the opponents of the pipeline, who are strongly represented in the European Parliament and European Commission, succeeded in setting higher barriers for its use by means of amendments to the EU Gas Directive. They themselves are guilty of exactly what they accuse Russia of doing, namely politicising east-western energy relations.
(Osteuropa 1-2/2019, pp. 23–32)