What goes on in Poland on the 9th of March.
The Nord Stream 2 allies are attacking Poland. Loans will flow if the project progresses
German Wintershall argues that the support of the Nord Stream 2 financial partners in Europe has not decreased despite the plan to introduce new EU regulations that may delay the project. They criticize resistance against it and call Poland by the name. Nevertheless, they stipulate that loans will flow depending on the progress of the project.
The European financial partners Nord Stream 2 (Shell, OMV, Engie, Uniper and Wintershall) provided EUR 324 million for the implementation of the project in question in 2017. This was announced by the president of the German Wintershall, Mario Mehren. In total, the companies donated 1,6 billion euros from the estimated 11 billion.
According to Mario Mehren, blocking Nord Stream 2 is against the interest of Europe. – Certain Eastern European countries are trying to disrupt the implementation of the project and are pushing for Brussels. Tricks of this kind have been criticized by the local legal services. They may result from politics, but they are certainly not in line with the interests of European consumers – said the manager. – I would recommend that you do not overestimate Poland’s influence. Do not pay too much attention to countries responsible for 1 or 2 percent of consumption in Europe – said the Wintershall CEO.
Meanwhile, more European countries have opposed the project: the Baltic States, Romania and Croatia. Denmark and Sweden reported concerns. It is also occasionally criticized by Bulgarians and Italians. According to the European Commission, Nord Stream 2 will not increase Europe’s energy security and is not in its interest, which will not gain the support of Brussels. The United States is equally critical, convincing Europeans to reject this project. Its supporters argue that it is a clean business.
Poland cooperates with Norway on security
Bilateral and multilateral cooperation and the security situation in the Baltic and Nordic regions were the main topics of consultations of Polish and Norwegian Deputy Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs. The Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of National Defence, Mr. Tomasz Szatkowski, participated in the meeting.
The ministers welcomed implementation of NATO Warsaw Summit decisions. They positively assessed the so far activities of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battlegroups with the participation of Poland and Norway. Minister Tomasz Szatkowski underlined the role of the HQ Multinational Division North East in Elbląg towards NATO battlegroups.
The ministers also discussed preparations for the NATO Summit in Brussels in July this year. They agreed on the need to restore NATO’s ability to collective defence and to ensure the NATO Command Structure’s proper capacity to respond to the present international security threats.
The ministers also talked on possibilities to develop NATO’s cooperation with the European Union, Sweden and Finland as well as Ukraine. They also referred to challenges and threats to the regional security, including actions of Russia, conflict in Ukraine, arms control and security building measures in Europe.
The ministers welcomed the present bilateral cooperation in the area of the security and defence. They agreed on the importance of its further development, for instance in such areas as territorial defence and the defence industry cooperation.