Pipeline politics
US, Germany to vow action on Russia in Nord Stream 2 deal
The United States and Germany will take action against Russia if it uses the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to harm Ukraine or other Eastern European countries, according to sources familiar with a bilateral agreement expected on Wednesday (21 July).
Biden, Merkel fail to resolve differences about Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline
US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel failed on Thursday (15 July) to settle their dispute over Russia’s Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline but said they agreed that Moscow must not be allowed to use energy as...
Germany loses OPAL gas pipeline appeal as court sides with Poland
Berlin lost its fight on Thursday (15 July) to overturn a ruling limiting Gazprom's access to the OPAL pipeline, which links the Russian gas producer's Nord Stream line to the existing pipeline grid in middle and western Europe.
Blinken: US able to mitigate Nord Stream 2 pipeline effects
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the completion of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline was a "fait accompli", defending the US decision to waive some sanctions if Moscow tries to use gas as a weapon.
Germany says Ukraine must remain gas transit country after new pipeline
Germany said Ukraine should remain a transit country for Russian gas, the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper reported, after President Vladimir Putin said it would depend on the former Soviet republic showing "goodwill" towards Moscow.
Russia finished key section of Nord Stream 2
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Friday (4 June) that the first line of the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany has been completed despite strong US opposition.
Russia says Nord Stream 2 testing work to start next week
Testing work on Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany will start next week, Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region where the pipeline starts, was cited as saying by the TASS news agency on Wednesday (2 June).
US waives sanctions on Nord Stream 2 as Biden seeks to mend Europe ties
The Biden administration waived sanctions on the company behind Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday (19 May), a move decried by critics of the project in Congress.
Republicans slam Biden administration on report of Nord Stream sanctions waivers
Republican US lawmakers on Tuesday (18 May) slammed the Biden administration over a media report that it will waive sanctions on the company behind Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline to Europe.
Eleven EU countries call to ban fossil fuels from trans-European energy infrastructure
Eleven EU countries have signed a declaration calling on the European Union to stop funding fossil fuels under its trans-European energy infrastructure regulation (TEN-E), which is currently under revision.
Mainstream parties block ECR resolution to force vote on Nord Stream 2
An attempt by right-wing Polish MEPs to force a plenary vote on the controversial gas pipeline between Russia and Germany was blocked for a second time by the two largest groups in the European Parliament on Thursday (29 April), Parliament...
Europe risks €87 billion in stranded fossil gas assets, report reveals
Europe is already building or planning to build €87 billion worth of fossil gas infrastructure in a continued expansion of pipelines and LNG terminals, despite the need to halve its emissions by 2030, according to a new report published on Thursday (8 April).
US Republicans warn Biden against Nord Stream 2 ‘backdoor deal’
Leading Republicans have warned President Joe Biden against striking a "deal through the back door" with Germany on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. They are also calling for further sanctions against companies involved in the Baltic Sea project.
Athens and Cairo mull changing the route of EastMed pipeline
Greece and Egypt are discussing the possibility of changing the route of East-Med gas pipeline in order to tackle the technical difficulties of the project as well as respond to the question of its economic viability.
EU says it does not need Nord Stream 2, but only Germany can block it
The European Union does not need the Nord Stream 2 pipeline for its energy security but any decision to stop the project carrying Russian natural gas to Germany would have to come from Berlin, a senior European Commission official said on Tuesday (23 February).
US sees progress against Nord Stream 2 amid calls for more action
The United States said Monday (22 February) it had seen progress from European companies moving out of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany, but critics urged stronger action.
Germany backs Nord Stream 2 ‘for the time being’: Merkel
Germany is sticking with its support for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline "for the time being", Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday (5 February) after condemning Russia's expulsion of diplomats from Sweden, Germany and Poland.
White House says Biden believes Nord Stream 2 pipeline is ‘bad deal’ for Europe
President Joe Biden believes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is a “bad deal for Europe” and his administration will be reviewing restrictions on the project included in a bill that passed during the Trump administration, the White House said.
German government, businesses come forward in support of Nord Stream 2
The German government said it will not abandon the Nord Stream 2 project, despite US sanctions and calls by the European Parliament to impose EU measures against the Russian-backed gas pipeline project over the Navalny case.
Competition or cooperation? EU, US enter new era of climate diplomacy
As Joe Biden takes the reins of a tumultuous America, analysts have tempered expectations about the ability of the new US administration to closely align with Europe on climate change.
Gazprom bond prospectus acknowledges risk over Nord Stream 2
Russian gas producer Gazprom has acknowledged in a Eurobond prospectus seen by Reuters on Tuesday (19 January) that there are risks that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project may be suspended or scrapped amid political pressure.
Zurich Insurance to drop out of Nord Stream 2 project
Zurich Insurance Group will drop out of Russia's Nord Stream 2 project in the face of looming US sanctions against European companies that support construction of the $11 billion gas pipeline, two sources familiar with the situation said.
US tells European companies they face sanctions risk on Nord Stream 2 pipeline
The US State Department this month told European companies which it suspects are helping to build Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that they face a risk of sanctions, a spokesperson confirmed.