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Merkel: Nord Stream 2 Not a Threat to EU Energy Security

Earlier, Germany allowed Russia’s Gazprom to build and operate the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the country’s territorial waters, despite the vehement opposition from Poland.
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"We consider Nord Stream 2 an economic project. We also support the diversification of energy sources. We also want gas transit to go through Ukraine like before. But we believe that Nord Stream 2 does not pose a threat to the diversification of supplies," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, streamed live by the German government.

READ MORE: Nord Stream 2: Why US, Germany Likely to Turn Their Backs on Ukraine

Merkel's statement comes after earlier in the day she held talks with Morawiecki on the EU's future and energy security issues. Warsaw is a vigorous opponent of the Nord Stream 2, as the country says it fears that the pipeline will increase Europe’s dependence on imported Russian gas.

"We had different views on the Nord Stream issue," Merkel told reporters after meeting Morawiecki in Berlin.

Lithuania Argues Over Germany's Permission for Nord Stream 2 Construction
On Thursday, media reported that Poland had a plan to launch its own alternative gas pipeline project called Baltic Pipe, which, in contrast to the Moscow-initiated Nord Stream 2, will lead to Denmark instead of Russia.

After Poland asked US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to make sure that US sanctions cover the project and Washington expressed its support for Warsaw's opposition to the pipeline, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Rainer Breul said that he did not even consider these statement surprising and saw no reason to assess them.

In January, Germany's Stralsund Mining Authority issued permission for the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Germany's territorial waters taking into account all potential environmental impact of the construction.

READ MORE: Nord Stream 2 to Squeeze Poland Out of European Gas Market

WWF Russia Says Not Against Nord Stream 2 Construction Provided Route Changes
In december, Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who is also the chairman of the Nord Stream AG Shareholders’ Committee, stated that he did not fear for the future of the Nord Stream 2 project amid the problems with governmental coalition formation in Germany.

Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture of Russia’s Gazprom with France's Engie, Austria’s OMV AG, UK-Dutch Royal Dutch Shell, and Germany's Uniper and Wintershall. It aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas a year to the European Union across the Baltic Sea to Germany.

The planned Nord Stream 2 project
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