Germany recalls importance of Nord Stream 2 to Europe

Head of the Bundestag's economy and energy committee Klaus Ernst said the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is important for Europe, as it will allow more gas to be produced.

"Germany and Europe decide for themselves who to buy gas from, and this does not depend on the coronavirus pandemic crisis," he said.

According to Ernst, the extraterritorial sanctions of the U.S. against companies, including European ones, involved in the construction of the gas pipeline, are unacceptable. 

He added that this "requires tough retaliatory measures from Europe." “For example, imposing sanctions against U.S. fracking gas,” TASS cited him as saying.

The MP also said that the energy partnership is a positive signal for German-Russian relations. "We need to develop these relations in order to smooth out conflicts," Ernst concluded.