Spain: Nord Stream 2 will ultimately weaken the EU

The online paper, which cites opinions from political and economic analysts, indicates that NS2 is practically ready, and the anticipation of its inauguration by the authorities of the consortium building this offshore gas pipeline coincides with the energy crisis in the EU with record energy prices.

"This crisis strengthens Russia" says the Spanish newspaper, indicating that Gazprom has enough natural gas to fill the shortages of raw material in Europe and at the same time lower its price.

"El Independente" points out that despite Poland's and the Baltic States' opposition to Nord Stream The 2nd investment is almost ready for use. He claims that Russia and Germany will benefit first of all. It notes that this project is controversial and some MEPs are demanding an investigation against Gazprom for breaking the rules.

The newspaper argues that the presence in the NS2 consortium of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder proves direct political involvement of Berlin's elites in cooperation with the construction of the pipeline running across the Baltic.

It points out that even the outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel, despite her distance to Schroeder, openly supported the construction of NS2 which, as the experts quoted by the journal indicate, has political objectives and, if the beneficiary is Germany, "it is not the EU as a whole".

"Russia is on hand to make the EU an energy addict because it wants to weaken it," concluded Nicolas de Pedro, an analyst of the British think thankku The Institute for Statecraft, recalling the statement of Russian MFA chief Sergei Lawrow, who stated that he did not recognise the European Union as a "political actor".

Source: PAP