Leif-Erik Holm
Nord Stream 2 and Climate
German Bundestag, February 13, 2019, Plenarprotokoll 19/79, pp.
9245-9247
[Leif-Erik Holm is an
Alternative für Deutschland Bundestag member from the northeastern German state
of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern where for a number of years he has worked as a radio
moderator. This state, where Chancellor Angela Merkel also has her
constituency, includes Germany’s Baltic coast, the planned terminal site of the
Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline coming across the bottom of the Baltic from
Russia. Jürgen Trittin is a member of the Green party and a former Minister for
the Environment.]
Dear citizens. Herr President. Ladies and gentlemen.
It is significant and good that we today discuss the Nord Stream 2
project, although the title given to the bill by the Greens has confused me a
bit. It is about the coherence of Nord Stream 2 with the EU’s climate and
energy goals, as if that were actually the decisive point.
I must say, Herr Trittin, your reasoning is adventurous. After
nuclear power, after coal, now you also want to demonize the gas industry. In
the future, from where please are we to receive a reasonable and steady flow of
energy? I can actually only warn the citizens. When the Greens govern our country, they will then transport
us back to the Stone Age.
What you are offering here is an energy policy run amok. To the
contrary, it is correct and reasonable that in the future we need more gas,
specifically on account of the botched energy transformation [Wende]. Only a flexible, readily
accessible gas power grid offers the possibility in times without wind and
solar power to keep this country running. Nord Stream 2 is thus a completely
logical idea. This new pipeline does not endanger our energy security, rather
it strengthens it, and that is important for Germany, for the citizens and
business.
That the new pipeline increases our dependence on Russia is bosh
with sauce [Quatsch mit Sosse]. When
the same Russian gas flows through Ukraine, are we then less dependent? No, of
course not. On the contrary, we even have an additional risk; namely, when the
transit states turn off the faucet. A bilateral pipeline is thus quite clearly
in the German interest.
A few relevant numbers: In 2017 we imported 117 billion cubic
meters of gas, not half of which was from Russia. We ourselves consumed only
half of that. It thus cannot be generally said that there is a dependence.
Now I understand that the transit states find nothing good in the
pipeline. That should be taken quite seriously. That can however change nothing
of our basic decision. In private life one chooses that best and safest offer.
It nevertheless also makes sense to cooperate so that Ukraine can continue to
be supplied. Besides, with Nord Stream 2 we strengthen even the energy security
of Ukraine, since the Baltic gas can naturally in case of necessity be
forwarded in the direction of eastern Europe.
Ladies and gentlemen, Nord Stream 2 is a completely sensible
project, in which besides not only Russia and Germany have participated, but
also businesses from Austria, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Great Britain. It
is a private sector project which serves the public interest. It is a peace
project. Those who trade with one another, do not shoot at one another.
Allow me to briefly address the issue of liquid gas. The fact that
Germany can buy liquid gas from the USA now excites the discussion. I hold that
to be completely absurd, since this gas is substantially more expensive than
the Russian. Should it come to that, then one could only assess it as being a
knuckling under to the U.S. administration’s improper policy of threat. That
would the citizens correctly not accept. Germany must finally act as sovereign.
The construction of LNG terminals on our coasts, Herr Minister, we
hold to be correct, and indeed primarily as security infrastructure. Naturally,
we must be armed in any case where no more gas comes out of the pipeline, for
whatever reason. But there is today not the least grounds for purchase of the
significantly more expensive fracking gas from the USA. From the financial
viewpoint and from the environmental viewpoint, that makes no sense.
In conclusion, I want to say that I am really quite astonished
here by the policy of the United States. The attempt at political browbeating
reminds me of the darkest times of the Cold War, which should have long ago
been surmounted. I think we Germans should do everything so that we are never
again the plaything of the great powers. Let us straighten our backs and on the
basis of reason and international cooperation defend our legitimate national
interests.
Many thanks.
[Translated by Todd Martin]
