Tusk criticizes Nord Stream 2

European Council President, Donald Tusk, called the Nord Stream 2 project “harmful to the bloc's interest.” In a letter to the head of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, he said that he has a negative view about this project. “I encourage you to be determined in demanding that all our rules stemming from the legal obligations, as well as our political objectives are applied to this project in full,” Tusk wrote. Poland, along with many CEE countries oppose the proposed gas link saying that it would increase EU's dependency on Russian gas, plus it would bypass Ukraine, which would further hurt Kiev interests at Russia expense. Proponents argue that the project would bring more cheap gas to Europe. Gazprom is working with Germany's Uniper, Austria's OMV and France's Engie on the scheme. The European Commission is currently working on a mandate to launch talks with Moscow regarding the project and its opponents want to make it as demanding as possible.