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The US punitive measures against the operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline have sparked international outrage. The federal government rejects the sanctions. Russia has announced countermeasures.
The federal government has condemned the US sanctions against the construction of the controversial Nord Stream pipeline as "interference". "The federal government rejects such extraterritorial sanctions," said the federal government's deputy spokeswoman, Ulrike Demmer, on Saturday. "They meet German and European companies and represent an interference in our internal affairs."
Demmer further said that the US measures were justified by the protection of Ukraine. In this connection, she referred to the general agreement reached in Berlin on Thursday regarding a new gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Against this background, the enforcement of US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 is "particularly incomprehensible," said Demmer.
Mützenich: We will not bow to extortion methods
The ruling party SPD also criticized the sanctions. The US Congress has already significantly interfered with the sovereignty of the European Union in terms of energy policy with its sanctioning decision, parliamentary group member Rolf Mützenich told the dpa news agency. The immediate enactment by President Trump is an additional step that will further burden the transatlantic relationship. "For Trump, the EU and Germany are obviously not allied partners, but vassals who are subject to tribute." Independence is sanctioned. "We will not bow to these extortion methods," said the SPD parliamentary group leader.
SPD parliamentary group spokesman Nils Schmid told dpa: "European energy policy is decided in Europe, not in the United States." Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) had previously expressed similar comments. Nils Schmid warned that the sanctions could also endanger the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations on the transmission of gas through Ukraine to Eastern and Central Europe, which are being mediated by the EU, because the hardliners could be strengthened on both sides of the negotiations.
A delicate matter for the EU Commission
The EU Commission, however, was reluctant to assess the sanctions. The Brussels authorities are currently examining the possible effects on European companies.
"In principle, the EU rejects sanctions against EU companies that do legitimate business," said a spokesman. The aim of the Commission has always been that Nord Stream 2 be operated in a transparent, non-discriminatory manner and subject to adequate supervision. With the EU Gas Directive, which came into force in 2019, there are now clear rules for all pipelines from third countries in the European gas market.
It is a delicate matter for the EU Commission. Germany is behind the gas project, but several EU countries reject it, including Poland and Denmark. The Commission therefore pushed ahead with the reform of the gas directive, which is to subject the management to EU rules. There had been arguments about that for years, too.
Construction is likely to be delayed and become more expensive
Moscow reacted coolly to the punitive measures as expected. The United States tried to drive Russia out of the European energy market as a competitor and to establish American companies, the Russian MP Dmitry Novikov told the agency Interfax on Saturday. The aim is to force Europeans to buy the expensive liquefied petroleum gas from the United States, even though it is uneconomical.
It is now expected that the construction of the pipeline will become more expensive and delayed because Russia does not have its own special ships for the laying of the pipeline pipes and has to look for a replacement. Nevertheless, the Russians assume that Nord Stream 2 can be completed. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin had also announced countermeasures to the US sanctions.
Dear USA this is a good way to loose friends and get thrown out of Europe... you are not welcome anymore...
https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten...erurteilt-us-sanktionen-als-einmischung-.html
