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Polish Briefing 11 October, 2018 9:00 am   
COMMENTS: Mateusz Gibała

Polish Briefing: Poland convinces to the US to sanctions against Nord Stream 2

What goes on in Poland on the 11th of October.

In the weekly Do Rzeczy, Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki repeated his appeal to the US to introduce sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 project. He argues that Warsaw and Washington are talking about this topic. A US adviser recommends using hydrocarbons rather to challenge Russia in Europe.

Americans can introduce sanctions against Nord Stream 2

– I expect US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 to be introduced. We are negotiating this matter – said Morawiecki to the newspaper. – I believe that everything will be clarified by the end of the year – he added. This would confirm the announcement of Peter Beyer, adviser to the German government for transatlantic issues, who claims that the sanctions will be finally implemented at the end of this year or at the beginning of the next.

This is an important message for European companies that sponsor the disputed project: Shell, Engie, E.on/Uniper, BASF/Wintershall and OMV. Shell announced that the introduction of sanctions could force him to withdraw support for Nord Stream 2, which the Russian side said would support the investment alone.

Chief economic advisor to the White House, Larry Kudlow, said on October 8 in the “Rising” program that the US should use their growing position in the hydrocarbon market. In the context of growing gas production in the US, he suggested that Americans should “deliver it to Europe and challenge the Russian hegemony in the gas and LNG sector”. – It’s possible to do. We must focus on the raw materials sector. Most cases are to be carried out in the private sector – said the adviser.

Germany repeats its position on Nord Stream 2

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the German government, Martin Fietz, stated that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is justified, but it must arise with the guarantee of maintaining the level of supply through Ukraine.

– The federal government considers the Nord Stream 2 project to be completely rational. At the same time the chancellor (Angela Merkel – ed.) Repeatedly emphasized that it is primarily an economic project, but it also has a political dimension, which should explain what will be the role of supplies through Ukraine after 2019 – said a spokesperson for the correspondent of Ukrinform. She assured that Germany would not become addicted to gas from Russia, because they have diversified sources of supply: in addition to Russia, also Norway, Great Britain and others.