The federal government is temporarily halting the approval process for the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline. According to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, this is a reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Germany is temporarily stopping the approval process for the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said in Berlin on Tuesday. Scholz justified the step with the recent decisions by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the crisis with Ukraine. Specifically, the government is withdrawing a report to the Federal Network Agency. Scholz said he had asked the Ministry of Economic Affairs to withdraw the existing report on the analysis of security of supply at the Federal Network Agency. “It may sound technical, but it is the necessary administrative step so that the pipeline cannot be certified now.” Without this certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot go into operation, emphasized Scholz.
Scholz: Sanctions, but no further escalation
The responsible department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs will carry out a new assessment of the security of supply, taking into account “what has changed in the past few days,” said the Chancellor. “In this phase it is now important, in addition to the first sanctions, to prevent further escalation and thus another catastrophe. That is what all our diplomatic efforts are aimed at.” According to reports, Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had such a step checked after he took office.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on Monday evening. The Kremlin chief also ordered Russian soldiers to be sent to eastern Ukraine. He is planning an invasion of Ukraine for the second time since 2014. The West accuses him of violating international law. According to Western sources, Russia has gathered about 150,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine.
Nord Stream 2: Certification process stopped
Although the 1,230 kilometer double line from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany has been completed, no natural gas has yet flowed through the pipeline. The certification process was recently on hold. The Federal Network Agency suspended the procedure in November and demanded that the operating company be organized under German law. Nord Stream 2 AG intends to meet the requirement by founding a German subsidiary. At a recent meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US President Joe Biden made it clear that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would mean the end of the line that had already been completed.
Source: Stern
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