Hello, I'm Paige and this is the Eurointelligence podcast covering current affairs in the EU and Eurozone.

I'm joined by Wolfgang and Susanna, directors of Eurointelligence in Oxford.

The big story this week, guys, is Russian gas, German dependency, Nord Stream 2, and now split between France and Germany over the project.

Wolfgang, why is Germany so keen to keep going with this project?

And what does this mean for its position, both in the transatlantic relationship and at

the EU level?

Well, we're seeing interestingly this week, a very interesting development that France

has disassociated itself from this.

Previously, the French were, you know, reluctant supporters

of Nord Stream. And they didn't like it. There was never an enthusiasm for if Russian-German

deal on gas, especially in view of, you know, a developing European energy policy.

But France kind of reluctantly went along with it.

The European Commission last year decided on a regulation that was approved by the council.

That regulation was, it tightened European control over the North Stream project, but

it was still a lenient regulation.

It made North Stream to, you know, it kept it viable.

And the French supported that position. Now they have shifted the position against it.

Macro has said that the arrest of Navalny and obviously the poisoning of Navalny and subsequent arrest have changed the situation.

And he wants to use Nord Stream 2 as a sanction mechanism.

And the Germans take the view that these two should be strictly separated.

I mean, separated means is to diplomatic speak for, you know, leave Navalny in prison and we'll go ahead with a pipeline.

You know, this is a euphemism as separation.

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