WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Nord Stream 2 is the gas pipeline joint venture, which is expected to provide an additional route for the Russian gas to Germany through the Baltic Sea, bypassing the three Baltic countries and Poland. Gazprom started the project with a consortium of five largest European energy companies, including Shell and E.ON.
“At the very least, a pause can be taken in order to assess the implications on energy security and on overall national security of the EU, but again that is something for the EU to decide,” Hochstein stated.
The Nord Stream-2 project plans to use the original Nord Stream pipeline for 86 percent of the route before branching off. It will be able to provide up to 55 billion cubic meters of Russian gas supplies to Europe.
The initial Nord Stream project, started in 2011, was criticized by several eastern European transit countries.
