German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the suspension of the certification procedure for the Russian Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline is in no way connected with political issues, writes TASS.
“As for Nord Stream-2, we are talking about a project in which private investments were made and the implementation of which has progressed so much that now there is already a pipeline. The issue of its compliance with European energy legislation is currently being considered. An agency in Germany decides this, completely not being guided by politics”, said Scholz during a press conference following the EU summit.
According to the German Chancellor, Berlin feels “a great responsibility to ensure that Ukraine continues to be a gas transit country.” Scholz added that Germany made a lot of efforts to get Kiev and Moscow to conclude an agreement on the transportation of blue fuel.
“We will continue to feel our responsibility for everything to work out with transit,” the Chancellor summed up.
Earlier, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said that in order to launch the pipeline, the Nord Stream 2 operator must obtain approval from the German regulator, which will check the compliance of the Russian project with the EU Gas Directive. Currently, the certification procedure for Nord Stream 2 has been suspended, as Nord Stream 2 AG must register a subsidiary in Germany.
As previously reported by News Front, the leaders of the countries of the European Union unanimously decided to extend economic sanctions against Russia.