Brussels hoped in vain that Moscow would act at a loss
The European Union came to the conclusion that the EU has no legal grounds to stop the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, but nevertheless for some reason hopes that Russia will abandon this idea, writes “Kommersant”.
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“As often happens, even the most crazy idea, if it is regularly presented with a serious look from high stands, no longer seems so ridiculous,” the newspaper notes. – For a month now, politicians, business representatives and journalists have been discussing the European Commission’s intention to negotiate with Russia on the legal status of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. On Monday, EC Vice President Maros Šefčović wrote on Twitter that the first discussion of the issue with EU energy ministers “showed strong support our approach." God knows what he meant, but here are a few simple questions to answer to get an idea of the matter.
Firstly, who is in favor of negotiating with Russia? This is the European Commission, as well as the Baltic countries and Poland, which were initially against the construction of Nord Stream 2 in general. These are also Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Denmark, which would like to abdicate political responsibility for the decision on the gas pipeline. At the same time, Denmark is one of four EU countries whose permission is required to lay the pipe. Who is against negotiations? Germany and Austria have stated this clearly, and according to Kommersant, France adheres to the same position. Large southern European countries such as Italy and Spain are also likely to oppose it.
Why are negotiations needed at all? The EC wants to achieve the extension of the principles of the Third Energy Package to Nord Stream 2, but the EC’s own legal service came to the conclusion that there are no legal grounds for this, and the EC leadership recognized this. However, if we hypothetically imagine that the Third Energy Package will nevertheless be applied to Nord Stream 2, this will put the project on the brink of closure, since it does not comply with either the principle of separation of activities (Gazprom, being the only shareholder, is going to pump only its own gas), nor the rule on third party access, etc.”
“So, negotiations on the status of Nord Stream 2 are being advocated by the players who were originally going to sink it,” Kommersant continues. “They are inviting Russia to voluntarily accept obligations that will worsen the conditions for the project and at least delay it. The only reason why the topic arose at all is that the EC has no other legal levers to influence the project. Moreover, at the moment the EC does not even have a mandate for negotiations, and obtaining one is far from obvious, since the EU leaders - Germany and France - are against it.
If, despite such obvious circumstances, Brussels continues to make statements about future negotiations with a serious face, then it either suspects Moscow of dementia, or - what seems more likely - is trying to save face in a situation that is in direct contradiction with the declared principles of the “one "Europe's voices in energy policy with the outside world".
See also: The Verkhovna Rada threw a tantrumy because of Nord Stream 2.
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