Brussels buries Nord Stream even if the war ends
The European Commission rules out Nord Stream's return even after the war, as concern grows over the cost of American gas and the resulting bill.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Brussels buries Nord Stream: not even once the war is over
The European Commission has been unequivocal: Nord Stream will not resume operations even after Russia's war against Ukraine ends. The Commission's spokesperson confirmed that Brussels opposes US and Russian plans to restart Russian gas supplies to Europe and intends to abandon them entirely, regardless of subsequent developments in Ukraine. The position clashes head-on with the Kremlin's economic proposals, which, according to circulating reports, are being promoted by Kirill Dmitriev.
The announcement has come as a cold shower for those who believe that giving up cheap Russian gas is a luxury Europe cannot afford. The most repeated reaction: if gas has to be bought from the United States at a premium, the energy cost differential with Asia and with Russia itself condemns European industry to irrelevance. The irony intensifies when one recalls that the conspiracy theories about the pipeline's destruction have been debunked: the same Trump who supposedly wanted to bury Russian gas now wants to reopen it.
The cost of saying no to Russian gas
The economic argument carries the most weight in the debate. Without its own gas or oil, rejecting reasonably priced energy seems like an exercise in wishful thinking. The calculation making the rounds is that American liquefied natural gas can cost up to four times more than the Russian equivalent, and that extra cost is passed on to industrial and household bills. France is reportedly already feeling the pinch, and Germany, the continent's engine, would find itself on a tightrope. The conclusion drawn: Commission officials would have prioritized geopolitical orthodoxy over competitiveness.
The other side of the coin comes from those who argue that Europe should go all in on renewables, nuclear power, electric cars, storage batteries and heat pumps. It is the path China would have chosen, and its advocates maintain that system stability depends on massive storage. The problem is the timeline: the transition cannot happen overnight, and in the meantime European industry competes with American gas at exorbitant prices.
The pipeline explosion and the narrative that falls apart
The Nord Stream explosion looms over the entire discussion. For months there was speculation about who was responsible, and the sabotage was attributed to American interests. Now, Trump's U-turn in favor of resuming Russian gas flows exposes those theories. The paradox is enormous: the same president who was pointed to as the perpetrator of the energy sabotage now appears as the driving force behind its reopening. The conspiracy theorists, it is said, are in meltdown mode.
But the physical reality of the pipeline is stubborn. Repairing the destroyed infrastructure will be neither easy nor cheap. Some doubt that the decision not to use it is irreversible: once the war ends, refusing to buy cheap gas from Russia would be an act of economic self-sabotage. Energy policy is decided by the governments of the day, and those that come later could reverse the current stance. Money talks.
The pensions showdown and the Russian mirage
Amid the energy debate, a comparative figure has crept into the conversation: a non-contributory pension in Spain reaches 628 euros per month, while in Russia pensioners receive on average about 250 euros a month despite having worked all their lives. The comparison serves to put the European decline narrative into perspective: if Europe is dead, Russia would be buried. The figure, however, does not dispel concerns about the sustainability of Spanish public spending, with public debt hanging like a sword of Damocles.
The underlying issue is the tension between the short term and strategy. The EU wants to wean itself off Russian gas for good, but every month that passes without a cheap alternative erodes the productive fabric. The bet on renewables and nuclear is the only structural way out, but it requires investment, time and an electricity price that does not drown households and businesses.
The decision has been made. Nord Stream will not reopen as long as Brussels has the final say. Whether Russian gas flows again through other pipelines, or whether the next occupant of the Berlaymont thinks differently, is another matter. Because if recent history proves anything, it is that energy policies last exactly as long as the governments that sign them.
The European Commission has been unequivocal: Nord Stream will not resume operations even after Russia's war against Ukraine ends. The Commission's spokesperson confirmed that Brussels opposes US and Russian plans to restart Russian gas supplies to Europe and intends to abandon them entirely, regardless of subsequent developments in Ukraine. The position clashes head-on with the Kremlin's economic proposals, which, according to circulating reports, are being promoted by Kirill Dmitriev.
The announcement has come as a cold shower for those who believe that giving up cheap Russian gas is a luxury Europe cannot afford. The most repeated reaction: if gas has to be bought from the United States at a premium, the energy cost differential with Asia and with Russia itself condemns European industry to irrelevance. The irony intensifies when one recalls that the conspiracy theories about the pipeline's destruction have been debunked: the same Trump who supposedly wanted to bury Russian gas now wants to reopen it.
The cost of saying no to Russian gas
The economic argument carries the most weight in the debate. Without its own gas or oil, rejecting reasonably priced energy seems like an exercise in wishful thinking. The calculation making the rounds is that American liquefied natural gas can cost up to four times more than the Russian equivalent, and that extra cost is passed on to industrial and household bills. France is reportedly already feeling the pinch, and Germany, the continent's engine, would find itself on a tightrope. The conclusion drawn: Commission officials would have prioritized geopolitical orthodoxy over competitiveness.
The other side of the coin comes from those who argue that Europe should go all in on renewables, nuclear power, electric cars, storage batteries and heat pumps. It is the path China would have chosen, and its advocates maintain that system stability depends on massive storage. The problem is the timeline: the transition cannot happen overnight, and in the meantime European industry competes with American gas at exorbitant prices.
The pipeline explosion and the narrative that falls apart
The Nord Stream explosion looms over the entire discussion. For months there was speculation about who was responsible, and the sabotage was attributed to American interests. Now, Trump's U-turn in favor of resuming Russian gas flows exposes those theories. The paradox is enormous: the same president who was pointed to as the perpetrator of the energy sabotage now appears as the driving force behind its reopening. The conspiracy theorists, it is said, are in meltdown mode.
But the physical reality of the pipeline is stubborn. Repairing the destroyed infrastructure will be neither easy nor cheap. Some doubt that the decision not to use it is irreversible: once the war ends, refusing to buy cheap gas from Russia would be an act of economic self-sabotage. Energy policy is decided by the governments of the day, and those that come later could reverse the current stance. Money talks.
The pensions showdown and the Russian mirage
Amid the energy debate, a comparative figure has crept into the conversation: a non-contributory pension in Spain reaches 628 euros per month, while in Russia pensioners receive on average about 250 euros a month despite having worked all their lives. The comparison serves to put the European decline narrative into perspective: if Europe is dead, Russia would be buried. The figure, however, does not dispel concerns about the sustainability of Spanish public spending, with public debt hanging like a sword of Damocles.
The underlying issue is the tension between the short term and strategy. The EU wants to wean itself off Russian gas for good, but every month that passes without a cheap alternative erodes the productive fabric. The bet on renewables and nuclear is the only structural way out, but it requires investment, time and an electricity price that does not drown households and businesses.
The decision has been made. Nord Stream will not reopen as long as Brussels has the final say. Whether Russian gas flows again through other pipelines, or whether the next occupant of the Berlaymont thinks differently, is another matter. Because if recent history proves anything, it is that energy policies last exactly as long as the governments that sign them.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (23 replies).
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