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The project has come under fire from the United
States and several eastern European, Nordic and Baltic Sea
countries, which fear that it will increase the European Union's
reliance on Russian gas.
Former German chancellor Schroeder said that U.S. gas is more
expensive than Russian gas and would be a bad choice for Europe,
adding that looming elections in Denmark offer hope that Nord
Stream 2 will be finished on time.
"Nord Stream 2 is a project that can be put into service at the
end of the year. But there is a problem, it's obvious - Danish
politics. This is linked to U.S. political pressure (on Denmark)
and Ukraine," Schroeder said.
United States Energy Secretary Rick Perry last month said that a
sanctions bill to put onerous restrictions on companies involved
in the project would come in the "not too distant future".
The company behind Nord Stream 2 has said it could push the
pipeline launch back to next year because of delays in obtaining
permits from Denmark.
The Russian-led company has two pending route applications with
Danish authorities, the first of which was submitted more than
two years ago, but it was asked in March to assess a third
option in Danish waters.
"Denmark is putting Europe's energy security at risk," Schroeder
said.
(Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov, Olesya Astakhova; Writing by
Tom Balmforth; Editing by David Goodman)
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