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EPP parliamentary group leader Manfred Weber: "Obviously Putin is using the gas supply for the EU as a political weapon"
Photo: Armin Weigel / dpa
The chairman of the conservative EPP group in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, calls for a tough line towards Russia on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. "It is obvious that Putin is using the gas supply for the EU as a political weapon," Weber told SPIEGEL.
“An operating license is hardly conceivable if the Russian leadership is not prepared to cooperate and increase delivery volumes.
We mustn't allow Putin to show us, «says Weber, who is also the CSU deputy chairman.
He jumps in Green boss Annalena Baerbock, who has spoken out against commissioning the controversial pipeline as long as the pipeline operator and gas supplier are identical.
The topic will play a role in the coalition negotiations in Berlin.
Meanwhile, 43 MEPs from five political groups are asking the Commission to clarify a lawsuit that Nord Stream has initiated against the EU.
In contrast to proceedings before public courts, judges appointed at short notice in such investment arbitration proceedings, explained the Greens expert Anna Cavazzini.
That is problematic because it is about billions of euros in public money.
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