Nord Stream 2 could become a sensitive issue in coalition negotiations.
SPD boss Walter-Borjans is in charge of putting the pipeline into operation.
Berlin - The construction and commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has been a political issue for years.
In the context of the current coalition talks, the discussion about the gas pipeline could now become particularly problematic.
Because despite criticism of the possible green coalition partner, SPD boss Norbert Walter-Borjans pleads for the commissioning of Nord Stream 2.
Compared to the
Augsburger Allgemeine
, he found clear words: "Unfortunately, you can seldom choose suppliers based on their sympathy for a political system, this is exactly the same with oil".
According to Walter-Borjans, independence is not secured by cutting off connections with others, but rather by having as many connections as possible with as many partners as possible.
SPD and Greens: disagreement over Nord Stream 2
Germany participates in European economic sanctions against Russia and is committed to compliance with standards.
"In this case, however, it is not about trade, but about an infrastructure that will help us to transition our highly industrialized country to climate neutrality," said the SPD leader.
Greens boss Annalena Baerbock, who recently spoke out against an operating permit for Nord Stream 2, is of a different opinion.
She referred to European energy law, according to which the operator of the gas pipeline must be different from the one who conducts the gas.
CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen also argued with this right.
55 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia
“European law applies - as a prerequisite for admission.
Germany and Europe must not allow themselves to be blackmailed by Vladimir Putin, ”said Röttgen (CDU).
Röttgen warned
the
Rheinische Post
about a kind of trade with the Kremlin: "There must be no deal according to the motto: Germany is not so strict about the law, in return Putin will enable gas transport." the SPD will position on this matter.
The Nord Stream is a system of underwater gas pipelines that run from Russia to Germany.
The first two tubes of the pipeline, known as Nord Stream 1, were inaugurated in November 2011.
The Nord Stream 2 project, which also consists of two tubes, was completed on September 6, 2021.
Decision by early January
Now the Federal Network Agency has until the beginning of January to decide whether the controversial tubes will be put into operation or not.
Both Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 are expected to deliver up to 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia to Germany annually.
(dpa / at)
