Vice-President of the European Commission for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic was quoted by Russian media as saying that the EU will have to respond in kind if the US decides to slap sanctions on the European companies involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
When asked whether Washington should threaten Brussels with punitive measures and intervene in debates on the future of the Nord Stream 2 project, Sefcovic recalled that the European Union remains a large economy which he said must uphold its economic interests and protect its companies.
He urged US counterparts to hold talks before considering the introduction of sanctions against each other.
Sefcovic’s remarks came after the Russian newspaper Izvestia cited sources as saying that Denmark, which has yet to issue permission for the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, is “apparently scared of disappointing its main ally Washington, which twists its partners’ arms in order to force Russian gas out of the European market and fill it with its LNG.”
The sources added that “at the same time, Copenhagen fears spoiling relations with Berlin, which supports the construction of Nord Stream 2 as a commercial project.”
Source: Agencies
