“We are of the opinion that the path taken by the federal government of separating from Russia’s energy sources is not the right one,” said several local politicians in a letter to the federal government. In order to ensure sufficient energy security, it is recommended to use Nord Stream 2.
In a joint letter to the state and federal government, local politicians from the island of Rügen have proposed the use of the controversial Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea gas pipeline. The letter, which is available to the German Press Agency, is signed by seven mayors. As the mayor of Sassnitz, Frank Kracht (independent) informed the dpa on Wednesday, representatives of other communities had subsequently signed the letter. The NDR had previously reported.
It’s not about activating Nord Stream 2 “on spasm”. Rather, it is about permanent energy security, stressed Kracht. If there are technical difficulties in ensuring this via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, for example, new ways have to be found. Nord Stream 2 is one possibility.
A week ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin brought the Nord Stream 2 pipeline back into play. This can be put into operation, he said in connection with the reduced deliveries by Nord Stream 1. The federal government rejects such a start-up.
Nord Stream 2 has not been approved, a certification process was stopped in February due to the Russian escalation in the Ukraine conflict. A few days later, Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) said on Tuesday that the Kremlin wanted to use the high gas price to break up solidarity in Europe and work towards approval of Nord Stream 2.
With a view to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the letter from the mayor states that they condemn “this war event in the strongest possible terms”. Nevertheless, it is important to weigh up how great the damage to the population and the economy in one’s own region could be. According to Kracht, the letter went to the Schwerin State Chancellery and Federal Minister of Economics Habeck, among others.
The state government took note of the letter from the mayor of Rügen, said government spokesman Andreas Timm on request. However, the question raised about Nord Stream 2 did not arise. “The federal government stopped the certification and thus the commissioning of Nord Stream 2 at the end of February. The state government in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania supported this decision. We all want there to be peace. Unfortunately, Russia’s brutal war of aggression in Ukraine continues,” said Timm.
Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) had massively supported the completion of the pipeline, but distanced herself from the project after the start of the war in Ukraine.
The initiators of the letter questioned the political decisions in Germany. “We are of the opinion that the path taken by the federal government to part with Russia’s energy sources is not the right one,” it says. In order to adequately ensure energy security, especially the supply of gas, it is recommended to use Nord Stream 2 in addition to Nord Stream 1.
The paper speaks of concerns about the plans of the federal governments for gas supply and the necessary infrastructure. Alternatives that are currently being planned are associated with enormous expenditure of time and money. The planned expansion of wind power has been criticized.
In addition to Kracht’s signature, the letter from mid-July bears the signatures of six other heads of administration, including Anja Ratzke (Bergen, independent) and Reinhard Liedtke (Sellin, independent).
Gazprom wants to reduce supplies through the Nord Stream pipeline. At the same time, the Russian state-owned company is reserving space for significantly higher deliveries through a pipeline in Slovakia. But will the gas really flow? And: Friedrich Merz sharply criticizes Olaf Scholz.
Noted historian Niall Ferguson believes the US made a major tactical error in the Ukraine war. His prognosis for Ukraine is therefore bitter. This also has to do with the West and the expectation of how it will behave towards Russia.
Putin’s gas games continue: The Russian state-owned company Gazprom wants to reduce the daily gas supply to 20 percent. Putin plays the powerful man who controls Europe’s energy supply. But things are not going well for the Russian president on the battlefield in Ukraine.
