Germany tells US to back off over Russian pipeline

BERLIN: Germany on Thursday warned Washington to mind its own business after US lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill that would sanction contractors working on a Russian pipeline to Germany.

"European energy policy is decided in Europe, not in the US," Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Twitter."We reject external interference," he said. The 9.5 billion euro ($10.6 billion) Nord Stream 2 pipeline will run under the Baltic Sea and is set to double shipments of Russian natural gas to Germany.

The German-Russian Chamber of Commerce (AHK) said the pipeline was important for the energy security of Europe as a whole and called for retaliatory sanctions against the United States if the bill passes. "Europe should respond to sanctions that damage Europe with counter-sanctions," said AHK chief Matthias Schepp.

Supporters of the 1,230-kilometre (760-mile) line say it will be a reliable source of cheap energy but critics warn it could end up vastly increasing Russia´s political influence in Europe. The EU joined in criticising proposed US action. EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said Brussels "opposes the imposition of sanctions against any EU companies conducting legitimate business". "The (European) Commission objective has always been to ensure that Nord Stream operates in a very transparent and in a non-discriminatory way with the appropriate degree of oversight," he said.