The United States and some other German allies have bristled at the project, warning that it could give Moscow greater leverage over Western Europe. She said Washington is concerned Nord Stream 2 could increase Russia’s “malign influence” in Europe. “Any pipeline project — and there are many multiple pipeline projects in the world that are potentially covered by this sanctions authority — is in an elevated position of sanctions risk,” she said. Chemical giant BASF is a major investor in Nord Stream 2. “A compromise could be that on the one hand the pipeline project isn’t blocked any further,” said Claudia Kemfert, a senior energy expert at the German Institute for Economic Research.

Source: National Post May 17, 2018 08:43 UTC