The European Union should negotiate the terms of the North Stream 2 pipeline, which would double the existing pipeline’s capacity to bring Russian gas to Europe, according to 13 of 28 nations in the continental bloc, a new Reuters report said. “We had 13 delegations intervening, with all of them being supportive of the Commission’s approach,” Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic told Reuters by phone. “I am definitely optimistic about getting the mandate, but I know this is just the beginning of the debate.” Germany, which would be the direct recipient of the new energy supplies, strongly supports the pipeline expansion, but some of Berlin’s allies spoke against the project, citing the leverage it would add to President Vladimir Putin’s geopolitics, especially regarding Ukraine. Berlin believes the European Commission does not need to play a part in negotiations with Russia, because the project is only a commercial enterprise. Italy, […]