28/01/2020 (Agence Europe) – According to information from Agence France-Presse (AFP), the gas company Gazprom, majority owned by the Russian government, announced on Tuesday 28 January that Nord Stream 2 will be completed by Moscow in order to circumvent US sanctions against European companies involved in the construction of this pipeline (see EUROPE 12396/19). Nord Stream 2 will run 1 230 kilometres from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea with the aim of doubling the direct supply of Russian natural gas to the European Union. According to Elena Bourmistrova, Managing Director of Gazprom Export and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the group, 94% of the pipeline is currently under construction. Two days after the validation of the American sanctions by Donald Trump, the Swiss company AllSeas had decided to withdraw its ships that were laying the last section of the pipeline. (DG)