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The almost completed Nord Stream 2 passes under the Baltic Sea. It should double direct deliveries of Russian natural gas to Western Europe via Germany. BERND WÜSTNECK / DPA / AFP

The European Union denounced, this Saturday, December 21, the American sanctions against companies participating in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas 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, runs under the Baltic Sea. It should double direct deliveries of Russian natural gas to Western Europe via Germany, the main beneficiary of the project.

The German government has denounced the US sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, calling them " interference in our internal affairs ," Ulrike Demmer, a spokeswoman for Angela Merkel, said in a statement.

Washington wants to support Ukraine

US President Donald Trump signed the law this Friday imposing sanctions against companies associated with the construction of the pipeline. For Washington, this work will increase the dependence of Europeans on Russian gas and thus strengthen the influence of Moscow . Washington also justified these measures by its desire to support Ukraine, said the spokeswoman for the chancellery.

Die Bundesregierung hat mit Bedauern zur Kenntnis genommen, dass mit der der heutigen Unterzeichnung des US-Präsidenten die vom US-Kongress initiierten Sanktionen gegen # Nordstream2 und Turkstream in Kraft treten. Die Bundesregierung lehnt derartige extraterritoriale Sanktionen ab. pic.twitter.com/LaJND36UEf

Ulrike Demmer (@UlrikeDemmer) December 21, 2019

Given the progress made Thursday to find a way out of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict over the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, the sanctions appear " particularly incomprehensible, " added Angela Merkel spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer.

At a meeting Thursday evening in Berlin under the aegis of the European Union, the two countries had reached an agreement in principle concerning the transit of Russian gas for Europe via Ukraine, before the expiration of the contract the 31st of December. Moscow and Kiev initialed the memorandum the next day.

Impact analysis after US sanctions

For its part, the European Union 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.

( with AFP )