“Nord Stream is the opposite of diversification” – opinion

It is in the interests of both Europe and the Russian people to halt the German-Russian natural gas pipeline project Nord Stream 2, writes Gerhard Gnauck in an opinion piece on Welt Online. It would increase the EU’s dependence on Russia as a major energy supplier, which could use it to its political advantage. On the other hand, gas and oil exports were responsible for about half of Russia’s state revenues. Only with this money could “today’s leaders in Moscow do what they like doing most: enrich themselves, halt reforms, and grow the military, FSB (Russia’s Federal Security Service) and police apparatus. Is that really in the interest of Russia?” writes Gnauck.

Read the opinion piece in German here.

For background, read the news digest entry German authorities issue first partial permit for Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the CLEW factsheet Germany’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.