The Bundestag has cleared the way for the controversial gas pipeline Nord Stream 2. With the votes of the coalition parliamentary groups CDU / CSU and SPD as well as the FDP the conversion of an EU gas guideline into national law was decided. This should provide legal and planning certainty for Nord Stream 2. The Greens raised sharp criticism.
The aim of the new regulation is to extend the rules of the internal market in natural gas to lines that run between an EU member and a non-EU state. Germany had long blocked the amendment to the Gas Directive, which gives the EU Commission more say.
Greens criticize the GroKo
The Greens accused the coalition of weakening the EU Gas Directive. Thus, the coalition counteracted the unbundling of production and operation, said the Green Party politician Julia Verlinden. Green Group Vice Oliver Krischer criticized that the promised further gas transit through Ukraine was still not regulated.
Coalition politicians defended the pipeline. CDU MP Peter Bleser said Nord Stream 2 will increase security of supply and help keep prices stable. The SPD politician Timon Gremmels said that the EU Gas Directive would be implemented 1: 1 in German law.
EU states and also the USA complain that the leadership from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea strengthens Europe's energy dependence on Russia and is a pity for the interests of Eastern European states of the European Union and partner countries such as Ukraine.
The gas pipeline is expected to transport up to 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Germany. The 1200-kilometer-long pipeline is largely finished and is scheduled to start operation next year. The Russian state-owned Gazprom and owner of the pipeline has taken over half of the total cost of about 9.5 billion euros.