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The Swiss registered consortium Nord Stream 2 AG also demonstrates peace: “Our shareholders and investors are fully committed to the project.”
Of course, we are talking about the main initiator of the pipeline, the Russian gas giant Gazprom and five EU energy companies: Engie, OMV, Shell, Uniper and Wintershall.
It was decided to issue such statements after new legislation on European energy security was presented to the United States Congress last week. New penalties would penalize individuals and corporations involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2.
According to Atlantic Council expert Alan Riley, the restrictions still directly affect the individuals and companies that contribute to the pipeline installation.
Reuters / Scanpix Photo / Nord Stream 2
The sanctions prevent the United States from targeting, for example, German officials who have issued the necessary permits or ports where Nord Stream 2 ships are moored, though Berlin says so.
“The law does not reach state institutions and entities. They are too far,” said Riley.
It is true that the action of the United States is still very annoying for Germany. Its Foreign Ministry announced last week that “new sanctions would mean interfering with energy security and EU sovereignty.”
The head of the Community’s foreign policy, Joseph Borrell, also sided with Germany and Russia. According to EUobserver sources, this is being pressured by Berlin, which wants the EU to be more critical of US extraterritorial sanctions.
The United States first imposed sanctions on companies building Nord Stream 2 last December. The Swiss Allseas stopped working immediately: the company’s ship laid the last segment of the pipeline.
The work itself was taken over by Russia itself, which sent the ship Akademik Čerski to Germany. It is true that the ship is still awaiting permission from the Danish Energy Agency to resume construction of the pipeline.
Reuters / Scanpix photo / Akademik Čerski
According to EUobserver, Borrell’s specific comments that US sanctions weaken transatlantic unity may confuse opponents of Nord Stream 2 in Poland, the Baltics, and the Nordic countries.
Critics of the pipeline simply believe that Berlin is appeasing Moscow and preventing the Community from taking a stronger and more united stance on Russia.
Furthermore, the EU has tried in the past to respond in an organized way to US sanctions against companies involved in Iran. But then the maneuvers did not stop the exodus of European companies from Tehran.
“We cannot prohibit anyone from buying gas from Russia. But we can complicate the process and we will not hide it,” said US Ambassador to the EU Ronald Gidwitz.
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