Posted on 10/07/2020 11:33:22 PM PDT by Olog-hai
Russian energy giant Gazprom pledged to appeal what they described as an unprecedented fine after the Polish anti-monopoly watchdog UOKiK ordered them to pay some $7.61 billion (6,47 billion) over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
The Polish regulator said that building the pipeline would increase Gazproms dominance on the Polish market. The project, which would allow Germany to double its gas imports from Russia, is tantamount to breaking the rules of law and of fair competition and the current situation may trigger serious consequences for Polands and the EUs economy, they added.
Gazprom is spearheading the Baltic Sea construction effort and is also paying for half of it, while the other half is financed by five Western companies ENGIE, OMV, Royal Dutch Shell, Uniper and Wintershall. These companies have also been ordered to pay millions in fines. [ ]
Poland is one of the most vocal critics of the project, which would allow Russia to deliver the fuel directly to its biggest buyers. The route bypasses central and eastern European countries that usually collect lucrative gas transit fees. Additionally, the pipeline would sharply reduce the countries bargaining power in the event of a supply row with Russia, which is especially important for Ukraine, as Russia would have an alternative supply route at its disposal. Many in Brussels are also irritated by the German insistence on the project, as EU officials hope to reduce the blocs energy dependence on Russia. However, Berlin has plowed ahead and defended the upcoming pipeline as a purely business venture, despite some domestic discontent. Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, known for his ties to the Kremlin and Gazprom, also serves as the chairman of the pipeline project.
(Excerpt) Read more at dw.com ...
The United States has rapidly expanded LNG exporting facilities. I’ve read that a full boat can power Poland for 3 days.
It doesn’t mean other countries may decide its policies.
Well, 100 boats a year would be enough.
But that’s exactly what they want to do to Poland.
What is the indicator to it?
It puts the lie to the claim that the EU is to be a “club” of equals, just for one.
For another, there is the historicity of Germany and Russia collaborating, being in every case a precursor to a hot war.
Gazprom has always used its products as a political tool, whether it was raising prices or cutting off the supply. Bypassing them and going straight to Germany is the ultimate form of that, and the ultimate reversal of eight decades of hard-won peace.
There is such a thing as freedom of commerce. Anything to the contrary is speculation. In this situation Poland is clearly in the wrong, obstructing legit business.
I don’t see anything called “freedom of commerce” in anyone’s governing documents.
And what’s free about excluding Poland from commerce anyhow?
You going to extend that criticism to Trump, whose own actions blocked Nord Stream 2?
Who said Poland is excluded?
Germany and Russia.
Now that’s funny:). Uniper and Shell already said that the decision is a joke and they would ignore it. Gazprom is technically not part of the project at all.
At max Poland might nationalize the infrastructure. Didn’t work well for Ukraine at the time. NS is the response to it. The sure way to lose transit is to let the infrastructure fell into disrepair.
Regardless all the speculations two sides are entirled to trade the way they want. If they want a pipeline through the Moon it is their business. If they don’t want deadbeat middlemen it is their right.
Poll the Germans and the Russians on the issue. The majority want the project completed. More so business circles.
If there is a precursor to war it is not the cooperation between two willing partners but the meddling of minor nuisances thinking they have a say in it.
Cuba doesn’t say that US has to transit its Eastbound export through it. It would be a stupid thing to do.
Thanks for admitting EU thuggery on behalf of Germany.
What EU thuggery? Should US transit through Cuba? Doing so would certainly benefit Cubans and not doing so won’t.
What is the difference?
Thuggery and extortion is forcing transit through unwanted locations. If they want transit they should behave nice making it profitable to all sides. That is the essence of trade, not arbitrary kangaroo rulings.
Especially by minor deadbeat players living off subsidies of countries it tries to hurt this way.
Now you’ve fallen to advocating trading with leftist regimes just because. That’s Obamaite. Bad enough the US trade with Red China, which Trump has fought against due to the evil practices on China’s part.
How did Poland become an “unwanted location” all of a sudden? And noted is your attempt to delegitimize Poland by calling their sovereign decision an “arbitrary kangaroo ruling”, also by spewing EU propaganda calling them “minor deadbeat players living off subsidies” as if Poland doesn’t contribute to the EU.
By extension, you’re anti-American. What brings you to this site?
No, Obamaite are your fallacies.
I am not advocating trade with Cuba just pointing at the fact that it is between US and Europe and according to your own faulty logic has to benefit or have a say in it. What would be your opinion if Cuba rules that US can’t import sugar cane from Africa and fines importers? It would be rather laughable.
What makes the situation different?
As for ‘sovereign ruling’ let Poland rule on Polish matters.
NS2 is nowhere near Poland. Every country located in proximity of it ruled positively in it.
In the end the project is a sovereign matter of involved parties which are Russia and Germany.
There is nothing anti-American in it.
US is not Russia or Germany, it is their issue and both sides are okay with it.
I don’t remember any of them expressing concerns about dependence of Mexico or Canada on US trade and how Cuba or Bolivia are disadvantaged as a result.
They realize that it is not their business to say respective parties who else has to benefit from this trade or a lack of it.
Where’s the fault in my logic? You didn’t point it out.
You, however, have used “ad lapidem”, “ad verecundiam”, and several cases of “ad hominem” to “explain” why Poland has no right to defend her sovereignty.
The EU proclaims a so- called single market”, but you’re justifying an exception in the case of one country, an exception even Trump opposes.
With all the smart terms you are using it looks more like an intellectual dishonesty not to see the equivalence between Polish and Cuban situation in this case.
It is not an insult to admit that Poland is factually not a contributor to EU. Her input is symbolic and it is a top recipient of EU subsidies making it the biggest basket case of EU to which Germany is a top contributor.
The Polish attempts to hurt Germany in this case has nothing to do with common market. More like an attempt to control the market vital to Germany in the first place in order to gain premium position and under the guise of anti-monopoly efforts no less. It is a 1984 territory.
Common market doesn’t dictate the trading routes and EU is not a single country. Her parts including Germany and Poland are sovereign players. It is not if Germany is picking a product from outside the EU which Poland might deliver at lower price and in higher quality. The opposite is true making a statement of Germany not standing for the common market rather off.
In fact your position is anti-American. Germany was a long-time reliable American ally and among the most pro-American countries in the World.
How do you think siding with deadbeat East European basket cases stealing from Germany affects the US reputation, NS2 situation included?
Do you believe the collective opinion of the German people is unimportant? I am not even asking about the Russians.
What is the American interest and how do you think US has to cope with consequences?
I think the global situation warrant US, Germany and Russia to be allies.
Wow, you’re going off the rails there, with all due respect; Poland like Cuba in what way? The EU and Germany go after Poland for not being as far left socially as they are, FCOL.
If you can convince Germany to revitalize its alliance with the US, that’s fine, but not on Germany’s terms. That country, in case you haven’t noticed, has been convulsing with hatred for Trump for four years and without reason.
Poland is not “factually” a net receiver from the EUSSR. The biggest net recipient over the past two decades is in fact Germany, who for a while was actually able to borrow money at negative interest rates.
Your defense of the EUSSR is wearing thin at this point, as is your defense of collectivism.
I am clearly not comparing them based on their politics.
We are now talking about trade and transit routes which is a function of geography, not politics, and you are trying to apply double standards.
What is your claim for Poland not being a receiver based on? The numbers are pretty much transparent. It contributes in single digits receiving hundreds of billions in return.
What the attitude of the Germans to Trump has to do with all the above? Almost half of Americans hate Trumps too so what?
I am once again puzzled what makes me an advocate of EU in your eyes. I am generally against the EU big time. It is you who are advocating minor EU members meddling in the sovereign business of other countries through EU.
Germany doesn’t try to set terms of alliance with US. Not in this case for sure. In this situation it acts like a sovereign nation exercising its rights to pursue national interest which are neither American nor Polish business.
When did Germany tell Poland how and where it should buy its gas from. In this case it is a Polish business.
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