Germany, France reach deal on gas pipeline project

Germany and France have reached a compromise on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed on Friday.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Merkel said differences over a proposed EU gas directive have been resolved.

"Indeed, there has been an agreement on the gas directive. And this has been achieved because Germany and France have worked very closely, together with EU term president Romania and of course with other member states," she said.

Earlier this week, local media had reported that France joined countries that oppose the Nord Stream 2 and backed changes on a draft EU gas directive to block this project.

French President Emmanuel Macron's surprise decision not to attend next week's Munich Security Conference has led to speculations of a growing rift between Berlin and Paris.

Merkel tried to play down differences with Macron, saying they had almost daily interaction and cooperation on many issues.

"The spirit of the Treaty of Aachen remains alive," she stressed referring to a landmark agreement signed between Germany and France last month to deepen political, economic and defense cooperation between the two countries.

The German chancellor defended the controversial Nord Stream 2 project and argued that Berlin was already diversifying its energy resources with plans to purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) from other countries.

The Nord Stream 2 project would carry Russian gas to Germany directly across the Baltic Sea bypassing Ukraine. Its construction is expected to be completed by December 2019.

The 764-mile (1,230-kilometer) pipeline will carry 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.