Brussels (AFP)
The European Union denounced the American sanctions on Saturday against companies involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
"In principle, the European Union opposes the imposition of sanctions against European companies engaged in legal activities," said an EU spokesperson.
The gas pipeline, which is almost completed, passes under the Baltic Sea, notably bypassing Ukraine. It should double direct deliveries of Russian natural gas to Western Europe via Germany, the main beneficiary of the project.
For Washington, this work will increase the dependence of Europeans on Russian gas and thus strengthen the influence of Moscow. The European Union, for its part, strongly denounces the interference of the United States in its energy policy.
The European Commission is currently analyzing the possible repercussions of the US sanctions, said the spokesman.
"The Commission's objective has always been to ensure that Nord Stream 2 operates in a transparent manner, with an appropriate level of regulatory oversight," he stressed.
Some 18% of the EU's annual natural gas consumption comes from Russia via Ukraine.
© 2019 AFP