Particular attention was paid to the role and significance of natural gas as a green energy source in the context of Europe's decarbonization policy goals.

The government in the summer earmarked 7 billion euros ($8.25 billion) for the build-up of green hydrogen in Germany, plus a further 2 billion euros to set up partnerships with other countries.

UOKiK on Oct. 7 imposed a fine of more than Zloty 29 billion ($7.62 billion, Eur6.48 billion) on Russian gas giant Gazprom for building Nord Stream 2 without its approval, as well as a fine totaling Zloty 234 million on five European companies that helped finance the project.

The almost complete Nord Stream 2 was meant to come online at the end of 2019, but the threat of US sanctions against companies working on laying the pipeline saw main contractor Allseas halt work in December last year.

The German economy likely grew by around 6% in the third quarter

gasoline prices are expected to rise by €7c/l and diesel prices by €7.9c/l in 2021 (+€0.6c/kWh for gas).

Nord Stream 2 would double the capacity of the gas corridor via the Baltic Sea to Germany to 110 Bcm/year and would reduce the need for Russia to use Ukraine as a transit country for gas supply to Europe.

Germany has seen almost 48% of its gross electricity consumption provided from renewable energy thus far this year

Germany's law sets a legally binding target to achieve a carbon neutral power mix by 2050,

“The Baltic Sea pipeline is above all in the interests of Germany and western Europe as we want to achieve the energy transformation,”