REUTERS
The EU demands a "fair deal" from Russia's Gazprom as for further gas transit shipments via Ukraine.
European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources Günther Oettinger says it would be difficult to stop the Russian-backed Nord Stream 2 project as it is now being built.
"I was never a great supporter of Nord Stream 2," Oettinger told German magazine Der Spiegel, Deutsche Welle's Ukrainian Service said. "But the truth is the pipeline has long been under construction and can no longer so easily be stopped."
Threats by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly stated that Germany will be in energy dependence on Russian gas because of the gas pipeline, is no reason to stop the project.
"Trump's threats are no reason for that," he said.
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At the same time, Oettinger demands a "fair deal" from Russia's Gazprom on further gas transit shipments through Ukraine. According to him, the European Union could increase the pressure on Russia here.
As for further distribution of gas from Nord Stream 2 in Europe, there are rules of law regarding the EU's internal market. These also include regulations that ensure fair competition. "Vladimir Putin and Gazprom are aware of this," Oettinger said.
In turn, Reuters reported that Washington is concerned that the pipeline, which will bypass Ukraine by running under the Baltic Sea, will strip Ukraine of important transit revenue and says Moscow is using the project to divide Europe. Ukraine derives up to 3 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) from transit charges.
UNIAN memo. The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction and operation of two gas pipeline branches with a total throughput capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. It should connect Russia's Ust-Luga and Germany's Greifswald.
This new pipeline bypassing Ukraine is to be built next to the existing Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The construction of the pipeline should be completed before the end of 2019. The length of the pipeline will be 1,220 km.
The project is being implemented by Russia's Gazprom in alliance with European companies – ENGIE, Uniper, OMV, Shell, and Wintershall.
Ukraine is against the construction of Nord Stream 2 as it will most likely lose its status of a gas transit country and its possible revenue losses are estimated at billions of U.S. dollars. The project is also highly criticized by Poland and the Baltic countries.