• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. Austria opposes including Nord Stream 2 in EU Russia sanctions
Europe

Austria opposes including Nord Stream 2 in EU Russia sanctions

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Feb 2022 22:12
  • 1 Shares

Austrian Foreign Minister affirms that US sanctions on Nord Stream 2 are pointless since the gas pipeline has already been completed.

  • Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg
    Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Friday that Austria will continue to oppose adding the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in a package of sanctions against Moscow that the European Union is drafting in the event of a Russian invasion.

OMV (OMVV.VI), an Austrian oil corporation, is a partner in the Russian gas giant Gazprom's pipeline project connecting Russia and Germany, which has been completed but is still awaiting German and EU regulatory permission. Austria owns 31.5 percent of OMV and is a strong supporter of the initiative.

If Russia invades Ukraine, US President Joe Biden stated on Monday that the $11 billion project will "come to an end." The US has long opposed Nord Stream 2, claiming that the project will only deepen Europe's reliance on Russian gas.

"I once compared it to a car without an engine. It is not even operational," Schallenberg told Reuters.

"To discuss it publicly in Europe as if it were a central element of a credible package of sanctions against Russia makes no sense to me logically," he added.

The Ukraine crisis, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck stated earlier on Friday, will play a part in the project's clearance process, but Schallenberg felt that sanctions would be unnecessary.

"It is unthinkable that the German authorities would grant the technical approval for operations if it comes to an act of military aggression," Schallenberg said.

Austria, on the other hand, would "back a consensus" on penalties on the project, he said, without going into detail.

The European Union has stated that it is prepared to impose "major" economic sanctions on Russia "if it invades Ukraine," although officials have stated that this is liable on difficult negotiations among member states, which are still ongoing.

Schallenberg claimed talks were "quite advanced" and that nothing had been ruled out, but he wouldn't go into specifics.

  • Austria
  • Nordstream 2
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • US

Trending Now

All
A destroyed German-made Turkish Leopard 2A4 during battles with ISIS militant near the Syrian ciry of al-Bab during the winter of 2016-2017

MWM: Why won't Germany, US send Leopard 2, Abrams tanks to Ukraine?

Most Read

Haaretz

Mossad agent killed in Italy part of anti-Iran mission: Israeli media

  • Europe
  • 3 Jun
Screengrab from drone video footage showing Ukrainian Leopard tanks getting hit by Russian artillery in the Zaparozhye direction (Social media / Telegram: ZA_FROHT)

Germany's Leopards, IRIS-Ts not holding up well in Ukraine

  • Europe
  • 8 Jun
James G. Rickards. (WIkipedia)

Ex-CIA advisor predicts date when US dollar hegemony will collapse

  • Europe
  • 7 Jun
NATO may deploy troops in Ukraine to guarantee security: Former chief

NATO states may deploy in Ukraine to guarantee security: Former chief

  • Europe
  • 8 Jun

Read this

All
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi attends a mid-day prayer at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 24, 2023 (AP)
MENA

Iran BRICS membership to soon be materialized, Raisi says

  • Today
File photo shows Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions (LARF) activist George Ibrahim Abdallah escorted by a French Gendarme as he arrives at Lyon courthouse, July 10, 1986 (samidoun network)
Europe

Georges Abdallah submits 9th parole request to French authorities

  • Today
Late Egyptian President greeted by cheering crowds after announcing his nationalization of the Suez Canal Company, Cairo, July 26, 1956 (Wikimedia)
MENA

UK's role in sabotaging Nasser's plans for developing Suez Canal: BBC

  • Today
Screen grab from a Russian forces drone footage featuring destroying NATO-supplied German madeLeopard 2A6 and US made 4 M2A2 Bradley IFV (Telegram: VOIN_DV)
Europe

M2A2 Bradleys IFVs, Leopard 2 tanks destroyed in Zaporozhye front

  • Today
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS