EU says Nord Stream-2 pipe legitimate, cannot hurdle pipe project

BRUSSELS/PETOPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, Jan 13 (PRIME) -- The European Union (EU) cannot obstruct projects that comply with its rules, and if the Nord Stream-2 project gets a permit to start, it shall be put into operation, the E.U. Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative Josep Borrell said after an EU defense ministers’ meeting on Thursday.

“The European Commission and the EU institutions cannot ban any infrastructure built in accordance with its legislation... If there is a positive response from both the German and E.U. regulators, the infrastructure will work. If not, then no,” Borrell said.

According to Borrell, functioning of the pipeline will also depend on development of the events in Ukraine and the attitude of Russia.

“You cannot imagine that we are thinking on one side of imposing sanctions (on Russia), just in case -- and on the other hand to open infrastructure,” Borrell said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russia’s TV Channel One that the situation with Nord Stream-2 is a clear example of the West’s double standards, and Germany has no freedom from the U.S. in its economic activities.

“Germany itself has no freedom to pursue its economic interests,” Lavrov said.

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