OREANDA-NEWS. Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline supports energy security of Europe. Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Linhart expressed this opinion in an interview with RIA Novosti.

"Austria has ambitious goals on the climate issue. However, gas will continue to be used until it is fully decarbonised. In this context, Nord Stream-2 contributes to energy security,"- the Austrian foreign minister said.

Earlier, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen opposed the launch of the pipeline, despite the issuing of a construction permit and the energy crisis in Europe. The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy has concluded that the launch of the project does not threaten the European Union's gas supply. For his part, former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that the construction of Nord Stream-2 meets the economic interests of the country.

The Nord Stream-2 project consists of two strings stretching more than 1,200 km. They run under the Baltic Sea between Germany and Russia. On 10 September, Gazprom, the main shareholder of Nord Stream-2 AG, announced the completion of the project.

The certification process for the pipeline was launched by Germany's national energy regulator, the Federal Network Agency, on 8 September. It may take up to four months to complete. After the certification, the draft decision will be sent to the European Commission.

On September 15, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov admitted that Russia may receive permission to launch the pipeline by the beginning of 2022. In October, his deputy, Aleksandr Grushko, said that Moscow had completed all the steps required to certify the pipeline.