[fuoqi]

Do you really think that Nord Stream 2 AG lawyers are that stupid? Note that the application was filled in June 2021, BNetzA begun certification procedures in September 2021, and only almost two months later (suddenly!) they have found that you need a German company. Ok, let's say that BNetzA indeed was simply not familiar enough with the new legislation passed by EP in May 2019 and by Bundestag in November 2019 (sure, you need almost two whole years to read it reaaally carefully). Also let's forget that those changes to the Third Energy Package were effectively aimed only at Nord Stream 2. And while we at it, also let's forget about the really questionable Baerbock's declarations (Minister for Foreign Affairs). But now we have an official statement from BNetzA what in the best case scenario certification will not end until summer of 2022. In other words, it will take the maximum possible time allowed by the procedures, meaning that the properly working pipeline will not be used for almost a whole year.

So if this does not look to like an intentional delay, then I don't know what to say.

[zajio1am]

> Do you really think that Nord Stream 2 AG lawyers are that stupid?

Nord Stream 2 AG is a subsidiary of state-owned Gazprom. They probably think that if they put enough political pressure, they could negotiate an exception.