In the dispute over the gas pipeline „Nord Stream 2“, France is against Germany. As the French Foreign Ministry announced yesterday in Paris, France is supporting an amendment to the EU Directive that will allow the EU Commission to regulate the pipeline project much more rigorously. Berlin, however, strictly rejects the new law.
However, negotiations were still underway for a possible amendment to the text, a foreign ministry spokesman said. First, the „Süddeutsche Zeitung“ reported on the dispute between Berlin and Paris.
Concern for addiction
The 1,200-kilometer-long pipeline will supply Russian gas to Europe, while the Baltic Sea pipelines have already been laid to a quarter. Especially the US, but also Eastern European states see the billions project critically.
Specifically, Brussels is changing the EU gas directive. Additional requirements could make the controversial pipeline project less profitable or even uneconomic, it had said.
The planned amendment to the directive provides for a separation of the corporate responsibility of gas supply and network operation. In „Nord Stream 2“ both are in the hands of the Russian energy company Gasprom. The law will be negotiated in Brussels today.
