BERLIN (Sputnik) — The United States' policy on energy supplies in Europe is unacceptable and new sanctions threaten the prospects of gas pipeline construction, German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations Managing Director Michael Harms said Thursday.
"Washington's decisions on energy supplies in Europe are unacceptable," Harms told reporters, adding that the latest sanctions passed by US lawmakers threatens "not only the construction of Nord Stream 2, but also other gas pipelines."
The US House of Representatives approved by a 419-3 vote on Tuesday a new version of a bill that would impose sweeping sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea, and limit President Donald Trump’s ability to lift the restrictions on Moscow. The measures target Russia's defense, intelligence, mining, shipping and railway industries, and restrict dealings with Russian banks and energy companies.
According to the official, the European Commission and certain EU member states' politicization of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project is unacceptable.
"We are categorically against the politicization of Nord Stream 2 by the European Commission and some European countries," Harms told reporters, noting that the pipeline would play a key role in ensuring Europe's energy security.
A number of EU officials, including German Minister for Economics and Energy Brigitte Zypries and Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern have already criticized the Washington's solo move as it runs counter to economic and financial interests of the European Union.
On Wednesday, following reports on possible reinforcement of sanctions against Russia, the German Federal Network Agency decided to withdraw five energy projects related to the Nord Stream 2 from its gas network development plan.
Nord Stream 2 is a major pipeline project, aimed at increasing the capacity of the already functioning Nord Stream, which exports Russian natural gas through the Baltic Sea to many European consumers, securing energy for the continent. Nord Stream 2, constructed by Russia's Gazprom in cooperation with France's Engie, Austria’s OMV AG, Royal Dutch Shell, Germany's Uniper and Wintershall, aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas a year to the European Union across the Baltic Sea to Germany, bypassing Ukraine.
