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The construction of the new gas transmission pipeline has attracted controversy. The main element of the disagreement lies in the fact that Nord Stream 2 will bypass Poland, the Baltic countries, Belarus and Ukraine, key routes for gas flows towards Europe. These countries would further lose their transit rights and have no way of influencing negotiations with Russia. Nord Stream 2 has faced opposition from some European politicians because of the deadlock over Ukraine. Already in June 2014 Russia had decided to stop supplying Ukraine with gas, risking to cut off supplies for European customers as well.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10902693/Analysis-After-months-of-threats-Russia-uses-gas-weapon-against-Ukraine.html The Telegraph, by David Blair "Analysis: After months of threats, Russia uses gas weapon against Ukraine"]</ref> However, Germany said it would only agree to the deal if Russia does not stop gas flows to Ukraine and eastern Europe when the transit contract comes to an end in 2019.
Yet, despite its oppositions, the project will be decided on not by the EU as a whole, but by the permitting authorities of the five countries whose waters would be crossed by the pipeline: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. For the time being, Finland, Sweden and Denmark do not want to block the realisation of the project.
Furthermore, according to several environmental experts, the construction of Nord Stream 2 will have a severe environmental impact.<ref>[https://www.clientearth.org/nord-stream-2-useless-and-illegal/?fref=gc Client Earth, "Nord Stream 2 'useless and illegal', say environment experts", 7 June 2017]</ref> In April 2017 the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission claimed that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline violates the Helsinki Convention of 1991 and the Ramsar Convention of 1971, as it crosses nature reserves in the Baltic Sea<ref>[https://portal.helcom.fi/meetings/PRESSURE%206-2017-431/MeetingDocuments/9-2%20Information%20for%20the%20International%20Consultations%20on%20EIA%20of%20the%20Nord%20Stream%20II%20Project.pdf Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission report on the Sixth Meeting of the Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area, April 2017]</ref>.
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