OREANDA-NEWS. Nord Stream 2 AG, operator of the gas pipeline construction project, has appealed against the decision of the Federal Network Agency of Germany in the Higher Regional Court of Dusseldorf.

In May 2020, the German regulator refused Nord Stream 2 to exempt from the requirements of the updated EU Gas Directive on an application submitted in January. The Agency believes that Nord Stream 2 did not meet the criterion of completion of the project by May 23, 2019 in accordance with the German legislation.

An appeal to the Dusseldorf Court was filed on June 15. Nord Stream 2 AG claims that as of May 23, 2019 the pipeline was completed in terms of economic functionality. “Based on the legal framework in force at that time, the company made irrevocable investments of several billion euros long before the European Commission announced its plan to amend the Gas Directive,” operator's representative explained.

The EU Gas Directive aims to liberalize the European market in the sphere of energy. The new document imposed a number of restrictions on gas pipelines, including the requirement to reserve half the capacity for alternative suppliers. Previously, this requirement applied only to the internal pipelines of the European Union.