Germany suspends permit for Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline

German Chancellor Olad Scholz at a press conference in Berlin, February 22, 2022. REUTERS - POOL

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After Moscow's recognition of the independence of pro-Russian Ukrainian provinces, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that he was suspending authorization for the controversial gas pipeline linking Russia to Germany.

One of the first sanctions after Vladimir Putin's speech on Monday evening.

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Just finished in the fall, but never commissioned yet, so the project is frozen.

Olaf Scholz announced on Tuesday February 22 to suspend the authorization of Nord Stream 2, this gas pipeline which connects Germany to Russia 

a tube of more than a thousand kilometers under the Baltic Sea bypassing Ukraine and must increase delivery capacities of Russian gas to Europe.

“I have asked the Ministry of the Economy to withdraw its report on the security of energy supply from the regulatory authority so that a certification of the gas pipeline cannot take place.

Without this, Nord Stream 2 cannot be put into service 

,” said the German Chancellor, adding that the file would be “  re-

 ” by the German government.

It was until now awaiting certification by the energy regulator in Germany, due to legal problems, in this case the non-compliance with certain provisions of German and European legislation.

A criticized position

Germany has long been criticized for its support for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, recalls

.

Angela Merkel has always defined it as a private project with no political background.

Olaf Scholz took up this thesis at the start of his mandate before correcting himself.

Despite everything, there has been much criticism against Berlin in the current crisis.

The German authorities have been criticized for not clearly stating that a Russian intervention against Ukraine would have consequences for the gas pipeline.

A majority of Germans recently favored a continuation of the project.

And officials of the SPD, the chancellor's party, defend a more conciliatory policy towards Moscow.

Olaf Scholz, who received his Irish counterpart, described Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize the independence of the pro-Russian separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as an attack on international law, the principles of the United Nations and other agreements signed by Moscow on respect for borders and the territorial integrity of States.

The German chancellor specified that the European Union's " 

" sanctions package against Moscow would be presented on Tuesday.

Despite everything, Angela Merkel's successor called for diplomatic efforts between Westerners and Russia "

". 

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• Energies

• Germany

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