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Economy minister Peter Altmaier defended the Nord Stream 2
pipeline, which is strongly opposed by many East European
countries as well as the U.S., who say that by circumventing
Ukraine the pipeline will increase Russia's leverage over
countries that rely on Moscow's energy sales.
Ahead of a summit due later on Friday between Merkel and Russian
President Vladimir Putin, Altmaier said the European Union
should guarantee that Ukraine will continue to receive gas
transit fees, even after the pipeline is built under the Baltic.
But he accused Washington of wanting to block the pipeline,
built by Russia's state-controlled energy giant Gazprom and a
consortium of European energy companies, in order to boost its
own shale gas exports.
"They are looking for markets, which we can understand, and they
can land it here easily," he said. "But it is much more
expensive than pipeline gas, so blocking Nord Stream 2 on its
own won't guarantee exports."
He added that Europe would respond firmly to U.S. attempts to
place its own economic interests before those of partners. "The
U.S. are our friends and partners, and we want to defend our
common values.
"But if it's America first, and they put their economic interest
before others, then they have to expect Europe to define their
own interests and fight for them."
(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)
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