In his opinion, it is unacceptable that one country, for example the United States, prescribes to another sovereign country - the FRG or the sovereign European Union how to resolve the issue of its own energy supply, since this "contradicts any reasonable relationship."
Ernst commented on the statements of the European Commission that if the threats of sanctions from the United States were implemented, it would be a violation of international law.
“This is a violation to threaten the country's sovereignty with the help of extraterritorial sanctions. After all, the fact is that these sanctions do not concern the territory of the United States, they concern the European Union, ”he said.
According to Ernst, the EU considers such influence to be contrary to international law.
“The next measure, which we are also discussing, is connected with raising this issue at the UN level. And then, perhaps, file complaints with the appropriate courts. And then we'll see what they decide, ”he said.
In December 2019, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the European Commission is "categorically against" US sanctions against European companies that participate in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.