Nord Stream 2 pipeline may take months to overcome all obstacles

Russia's controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline may take several months to overcome all bureaucratic obstacles and start supplying natural gas to Germany, which would help alleviate the energy crisis in the European Union (EU). The pipeline, which runs across the Baltic Sea, raising concerns about the Kremlin's control over energy supplies to the continent, has been completed and is awaiting certification by national and EU authorities. Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to increase gas supplies to Europe, saying Nord Stream 2 could be activated "the day after" approval by European authorities. However, the approval process can take until May, if regulators use all the time allowed. Whether bureaucrats will be willing to speed up this process if Europe's energy problems intensify remains to be seen. Rising gas prices, along with sub-capacity supplies in recent weeks, have led European officials to accuse Russia of restricting supplies to put pressure on authorities and obtain certification for new pipelines. Changes in the attitude of politicians are not expected. The German government, led by outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel, has consistently supported the project, despite objections from the United States, some EU partners and Ukraine. In Germany, led by Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat whose party is trying to form a new government and supports the pipeline, there is no political shift on the horizon. On the other hand, the Greens, the second largest political party involved in coalition negotiations, have long opposed the project. On Wednesday, co-leader Robert Habeck reiterated his call for the pipeline to comply with EU rules. And he accused Russia of using the project as a tool for blackmail. "If you ask me if the Nord Stream 2 connection should be allowed, I would only say that if all European rules are followed," Habeck told Deutschlandfunk. He added that he had doubts about this in this case. The agencies have drawn up a list of steps to be expected in this regard.