Europe concerned at impact of US energy sanctions on Russia
24 July 2017 11:24 PM IST
European Union officials are "activating all diplomatic channels" to press home their concerns that looming US energy sanctions against Russia could affect Europe's energy supplies, a spokesman said on Monday.
US lawmakers are scheduled to consider the sanctions package as early as Tuesday, and the bill could be sent to President Donald Trump before Congress breaks for the August recess.
The measures are aimed at punishing Moscow for meddling in the presidential election and its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria.
EU member states Germany and Austria have criticized the penalties, saying they could affect European businesses involved in piping in Russian natural gas.
In a joint statement last month, Austria's Chancellor Christian Kern and Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel cited a section of the sanctions bill that calls for the United States to continue to oppose the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would pump Russian gas to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea.
European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said Monday that the EU's executive arm is "following this process with some concern regarding the European Union's energy independence and our energy security interests."
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