The experts of the ministry have come to the conclusion that the certification of the new gas pipeline does not endanger the security of gas supplies to Germany and the European Union, the ministry said in a statement. Prior to the decision, the Ministry had consultations with other countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland.
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The interim decision on the certification process must now be taken by the German Federal Network Agency before the beginning of January, after which the European Commission (EC) will have two months to reach its conclusion on Nord Stream 2. In addition, the EC may request a further two months to take a decision if it needs additional information. Following receipt of the Brussels conclusion, the Federal Network Agency will have a further two months to take a final decision. In this way, the certification process can take eight to ten months.
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The pipeline, which was completed in September, is expected to supply 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia to Germany each year.
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The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has raised concerns that Western European countries may become increasingly dependent on Russian gas and that Moscow will be able to increase pressure on Ukraine as Europe becomes less dependent on gas transit supplies through Ukraine.
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Officials in the Baltic States have also been critical of Nord Stream 2, stressing that it is a geopolitical project and that it runs counter to the goals of the European Energy Union.
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