DISINFO: The Polish anti-monopoly regulator is promoting American interests in Europe
SUMMARY
The position of Warsaw towards the Nord Stream 2 [recent decision to fine Gazprom] looks very strange. It is possible that Poland does not even hope to win this case – it is just trying to make the Nord Stream 2 toxic, in order to force the European companies to withdraw from participation in this project. Here, Poland clearly acts as a side promoting American interests. The United States also calls upon Europe to stop its cooperation with Gazprom, threatening it with sanctions. In this situation, the Polish anti-monopoly regulator is “grunting” from another corner.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Nord Stream 2 project, suggesting the idea that particular European countries (such as Poland) protest against it because of the position of the United States. The statement that the Polish authorities are against the construction of Nord Stream 2 because of the USA’s position is a conspiracy theory. The Polish authorities have repeatedly stated that Nord Stream 2 is incongruent with the goals of the EU’s energy policy. In the opinion of Poland, the pipeline would lead to further monopolisation of the market rather than the diversification of gas supplies to Europe. A recent decision of the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) regarding Gazprom is connected to the refusal of Gazprom to cooperate with the Polish anti-monopoly investigation regarding Nord Stream 2. On October 3, the UOKiK presented its decision to fine Gazprom for 7.61 billion EUR for its failure to cooperate in the anti-trust investigation conducted in relation to the construction of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. See similar messages regarding the Polish position towards the Nord Stream 2: Polish decision to fine Gazprom for the Nord Stream 2 is directly connected to Navalny case, Polish actions against Nord Stream 2 are inconsistent with EU policies – they promote the US interests, and The concept of “energy security” has turned into an anti-Russian project.