Renzi called Putin, or vice versa. Italy could give a hand in exchange for a stake in the offshore pipeline, or maybe not. Russian and Italian interests meet under the sea. A sea of lies.
We don’t know who called who, but apparently the first to have taken the bait of Italy opposing to the Nord Stream 2 was just Putin. News reported the Russian President asking Italian PM to lift his opposition to the pipeline under the Baltic Sea, offering in return a stake in the project. Then, some newspapers reported an Italian U-turnin exchange of a contract, others said that Renzi refused to back down. “We can’t lose face for two pipes under the sea,” Renzi said according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. But the sea of lies is the only one so far.
Hoaxes
The hoax generates from the mysterious phone call between the two leaders, which took place in mid-December. During that conversation, there was time to talk of Nord Stream 2. Putin, or Renzi, or both would have hinted at the possibility of involving Saipem, a subsidiary of Eni, in the project. This snowball set off the avalanche of allegations and denials.
Yet, the words of the CEO of Eni should clarify everything once for all. “It was never considered, nor will be considered, the entry of Eni in the Nord Stream and not even a sale of Saipem shares” said Claudio Descalzi. “However, all of us hope that Saipem can work as a contractor with the Nord Stream”, which it is quite another thing.
Saipem has in fact already been working for the realization of the existing pipeline, the Nord Stream 1, without meaning that Italy has any role in the pipeline.
And it is obvious everybody hopes to have a contract with the Nord Stream 2 since, if it’s about “two pipes under the sea”, those tubes are worth 10 billion euros. Hic non olet.
Pipes
Renzi has rediscovered the national interest, some say. Italy is aware of its role as a bridge between Europe and Russia, say others. Maybe. What is for sure is a confrontation with the EU and Germany, after the project of South Stream was abandoned because considered not complying to European rules on access of third parties. The EU’s decision costed to Saipem, engaged in its implementation, a loss of orders for 1.2 billion euro and a fall in the share price. The Italian government then pointed the finger at the Nord Stream, the de facto Russian-German infrastructure that has nothing to do with Europe and goes against the diversification of supply sources, submitting an even bigger slice of Europe’s energy needs to the Moscow-Berlin axis.
And then there is Ukraine. Raison d’etre of all the pipelines that carry Siberian gas directly to Europe bypassing other former Soviet countries. Infrastructures that leave Ukraine increasingly alone in the gas war with Russia, and directly collide with the EU sanctions against the Russian military aggression on Crimea and Donbass. Due to Italy’s request, the EU will now have to decide on the viability of the Nord Stream 2. And we’ll find out if for Europe Ukraine is worth a couple of pipesunder the sea.
@daniloeliatweet
Renzi called Putin, or vice versa. Italy could give a hand in exchange for a stake in the offshore pipeline, or maybe not. Russian and Italian interests meet under the sea. A sea of lies.
We don’t know who called who, but apparently the first to have taken the bait of Italy opposing to the Nord Stream 2 was just Putin. News reported the Russian President asking Italian PM to lift his opposition to the pipeline under the Baltic Sea, offering in return a stake in the project. Then, some newspapers reported an Italian U-turnin exchange of a contract, others said that Renzi refused to back down. “We can’t lose face for two pipes under the sea,” Renzi said according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. But the sea of lies is the only one so far.
