The controversial Russia-led natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 will likely get approval from German and EU regulators, but this approval could also likely come too late to ease the gas shortages in Europe this winter season. German authorities have signaled that they would certify the pipeline, which is completed and awaits an operational license from Germany. But the German authorization, expected no later than January 8, 2022 , will then need a review of the European Commission, which is non-binding but has to find whether the pipeline and its operation complies with EU rules. The EU has two months to decide and another two months to stall a decision, which could push the first actual gas flows on Nord Stream 2 to well beyond the winter season in Europe, to May 8, Bloomberg’s Patrick Donahue notes . Some analysts and EU member states such as Poland accuse Russia […]