The Chancellor relieves Russia in the gas dispute.
(Photo: dpa)
Brussels Chancellor Angela Merkel currently sees no signs that Russia is cutting gas supplies to Europe in order to force the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline to go into operation. According to her information, there are no orders “for which Russia has said that we will not deliver that to you,” said the Chancellor at a press conference following the EU summit in Slovenia. Russia can only deliver gas on the basis of contractual commitments, “not just like that”.
“Is enough ordered, or is the high price at the moment perhaps also a reason not to order so much?” That is the question, stressed Merkel. The EU group agreed to keep an eye on the development of the energy markets and to deepen the subject at another summit in two weeks’ time. The Chancellor said that you have already spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about energy supplies and the filling of European gas storage facilities.
In view of the rapidly increasing gas prices in Europe, some experts recently warned that Russia could exploit the situation geopolitically. The Kremlin has a strategic interest in ensuring that the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline goes into operation as quickly as possible. However, Nord Stream 2 AG, a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned company Gazprom, still lacks the necessary certification.
Demands for investigation by the EU Commission
Opponents of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline argue that Russia is deliberately reducing gas supplies to Europe via the existing pipeline network and thus deliberately driving up energy prices in the EU – with the aim of putting the approval authorities under pressure.
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In a letter to the EU Commission, several MEPs recently expressed the suspicion “that the record increase in natural gas prices in Europe in recent weeks could be a direct result of deliberate market manipulation and Gazprom’s measures”. They asked the Commission to investigate.
Gazprom boss Alexei Miller, however, argues that the low gas storage levels in Europe are a result of the cold winter and spring. At that time, more gas was used than usual; and refilling could only be started later. That also affects the prices.
Topic: Nord Stream 2 could still fail – because of the EU