Nord Stream 2 Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP)
6. What his policy is on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline;
and if he will make a statement. [906040] The Minister for Europe
and the Americas (Sir Alan Duncan) We recognise
that Nord Stream 2 is a controversial proposal, as it
would be a gas pipeline that would...Request free trial
Nord Stream 2
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Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP)
6. What his policy is on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline; and if
he will make a statement. [906040]
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The Minister for Europe and the Americas (Sir Alan
Duncan)
We recognise that Nord Stream 2 is a controversial
proposal, as it would be a gas pipeline that would bypass
Ukraine and give Russia greater dominance over the European
energy market. The UK is not significantly affected, but we
are none the less in regular contact with Germany and
Ukraine to discuss and assess the situation.
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Stewart Malcolm McDonald
I do not like saying this, because he is a good Minister, but
for him to say to that the UK is not affected displays a
shocking level of languid complacency. Of course the UK will
be affected if this goes ahead; it will hand to the Kremlin
unimaginable economic and political leverage. Why will he not
show some muscle, see that this is a big problem, not just
for the UK but for the entirety of the future of Europe, and
start rallying together with our allies to stop this project?
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Sir
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his appreciation of
my skills as a former oil trader. Nord Stream is indeed a
pipeline that takes gas from Russia to Germany through
international waters, until Denmark, and then it makes
landfall in northern Germany. It is primarily a matter for
those countries but, as he says, it is of extreme strategic
importance to Ukraine, which I fully recognise. That is why
we have had meetings with the chief executive of NAFTA. It is
also significant to note that, on 10 April, Chancellor Merkel
stated that Nord Stream 2, as a project,
“is not possible without clarity on the future transit role
of Ukraine”.
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(Tonbridge and Malling)
(Con)
I welcome the Minister’s statement. He is more than aware
from his many trips around Europe, and indeed his expert
understanding of the energy business and the United States,
of the potential impact on not only eastern Europe, but our
forward defences because of that. Does he agree that working
together with allies around the Baltic, where this pipeline
seems to be going to flow, would be very much in our national
interest and that the UK very definitely has an interest in
making sure that Russia does not complete this project?
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Sir
I reiterate that, in terms of our actual energy supplies,
Russia accounts for only about 1% of UK gas demand, so it is
very small and most of it comes from Qatar and elsewhere.
However, this pipeline is potentially of strategic importance
for the influence of Russia, as my hon. Friend, the Chairman
of the Foreign Affairs Committee rightly says, so of course
we are in discussion with Germany and other interested
parties about the significance of the proposed pipeline.
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