EU funding for the Baltic Sea pipeline

It's likely that construction of a natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany will receive EU funding, against the strong objections of Poland and the Baltic countries. Jedrzej Bielecki comments: "Today we have learned that Poland will participate in the investment – albeit unwillingly and without having any say in the matter. This is because it's highly likely that the pipeline will be financed with credit from the European Investment Bank, in which Poland is a partner, and also by the EU budget, to which Poland contributes. Decisions on EU-financed investments require a simple majority. No one has veto power. Even with the support of the Baltic states, Poland has no chance of pushing through its position." Bielecks adds, if the Warsaw government doesn't start being more cooperative within Europe, it can expect more such "unpleasant decisions".

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