Czech Republic Signed Only 'Mild Version' of Letter Against Nord Stream 2

The Czech Republic signed a letter blocking the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, but a "mild version", the country's Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mladek said.

PRAGUE (Sputnik) — The Czech Republic signed only a "mild version" of the letter sent by several EU members to the European Commission, seeking to block the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the country's Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mladek said.

"It is much milder than the letter prepared earlier by economy and industry ministers," Mladek told RIA Novosti, adding that the Slovak economy minister insisted on signing the original document, which was not approved by the Czech government.

"We do not wish to rely only on the Nord Stream, we prefer that there are two gas routes, through Ukraine and through the Baltic Sea," he noted.

In late 2015, nine Central and Eastern European countries, led by Poland and Slovakia, sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk asking him to block the Nord Stream 2 construction due to energy security concerns. In response, the European Commission said its stance on the gas pipeline remained positive.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, intended to deliver Russian natural gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea, could provide up to 55 billion cubic meters of direct gas annually to European customers.

Poland and Slovakia have repeatedly voiced their strong disapproval of the project, claiming that it threatens their energy security.