In an interview for Radio Poland, Fotyga - who served as Polish foreign minister in 2006-2007 - described Nord Stream 2, which is being built from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, as an example of “Russian hybrid weapon.”
She added: “Now and then voices in support [of the pipeline] are being heard, mainly from Germany and Austria.”
Earlier this month, a group of US senators introduced a bill to expand sanctions on the controversial pipeline.
The bill, known as the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Clarification Act, aims to stop Russia from completing the controversial project by slapping penalties on companies assisting with the construction of the pipeline.
The legislation, spearheaded by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, follows a measure approved by the US Congress and signed by President Donald Trump late last year.
Fotyga said that she welcomed the US bi-partisan bill, adding that “the stand of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the majority of countries on the political harmfulness of the project is universally known.’
In her view, the lobbying efforts in support of the controversial pipeline are an attack on US activities and undermine the will of the European Union to undertake further resolute steps.
The Polish MEP stressed that the European Commission should respond to what she described as the latest lies that describe US sanctions as an interference in the EU’s energy security and sovereignty.
In her view, the Commission should make it clear that it is Nord Stream 2 that poses a threat to the bloc’s energy security and interferes with the EU’s sovereignty.
In a question addressed to the Commission, Fotyga referred to a lobbying network that has been built by Russia’s Gazprom, with assistance from former Commission employees.
“Is the Commission, being aware of Russian corruption practices, and of the links between Nord Stream 2 management and the former communist special services of Russia and Germany, conducting an analysis of the lobbying activities of companies connected to Nord Stream 2 and of consulting and PR firms that were hired by them?” the Polish MEP wrote to the Commission.
(mk/pk)