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Business in Europe

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The first edition of EUobserver's Business in Europe magazine looks at business and industry in Europe.

growth. But low oil

growth. But low oil prices, competition from liquid and shale gas and EU targets to cut CO2 emissions are expected to stay for the long term. Nord Stream 2 lobbyists have said it is needed because Norwegian and UK gas production will fall by Its critics countered that the private sector could increase the capacity of Ukraine pipelines for a fraction of the price of Nord Stream 2 even if the extra demand for Russian gas materialised. The private sector, such as UK energy analyst Platts, has said the dip in Norwegian and UK output would create, at best, a "limited window to earn money" for Nord Stream 2 before the long-term trends on low demand take hold. Meanwhile, Gazprom itself is an unusual partner. “gazoviki” by reference to the “siloviki”, a clan of Putin-loyal former spies. Five of its senior managers - Andrei Akimov, Valeriy Golubiev, Alexandr Kozlov, Sergei Khomyakov and Alexandr Medvedev - have links, like Putin, with the Russian intelligence service, the FSB. Warnig, the chief of the Nord Stream 2 consortium, used to spy in former West Berlin for the former East German secret service, the Stasi. The roll call indicates that Gazprom juggles security and commercial priorities. It is also associated with graft and mismanagement. A contact working with Alexei Navalny, a Russian anti-corruption activist, told EUobserver it's “one of the most corrupt companies in the world.” Nord Stream 2's Mueller declined to comment on Shell also declined to comment on whether Nord Stream 2 poses a reputational risk. It said politics does not play a role in its decisions. "We are a business entity. We take decisions based on best Markets have commented on Gazprom, however. The company was worth 9 billion in 2008. It owns more gas than any other in the world. But the gazovikis' failure to adapt to market developments value, or market capitalisation, fall to less than billion. If it were to keep shrinking at that rate, BASF, E.ON, Engie, OMV and Shell might see it vanish before Nord Stream 2 is built. Pipe-laying ship in Baltic Sea Photo: Nord Stream AG gas will come from Yuzhno-Russkoye Russia Photo: Nord Stream AG 10 — BUSINESS IN EUROPE JUNE 2016

Headache for businesses, uncertainty for investors — the economic consequences of Brexit Look at the main donors to the Remain and Leave campaigns and the first impression is of a David vs Goliath contest. By Ben Fox Photo: iom.int The referendum question: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Photo: Reuters A long-standing tradition among British europhiles is to lament the hostile euroscepticism of most of its newspapers. Yet while Rupert Murdoch and others leant towards Brexit, the big beasts of its business community lean the opposite direction. Look at the main donors to the Remain and Leave campaigns and the first impression is of a David vs Goliath contest. Both campaigns in the run-up to a referendum on 23 June on UK membership of the EU lean heavily on individuals. David Sainsbury, a long-standing financier of pro-European think tanks and political parties, had given € 4.9 million to the Remain camp by mid-April, according to the UK Electoral Commission. Multi-millionaire businessman Arron Banks donated € 7.9 million to Leave. are among major donors to the pro-EU cause, but the only group that appears to have co-ordinated itself is investment bankers. Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley have coughed up € 2 million between them for the Remain camp. If funding from sharp-toothed US mega-banks has offered an easy line of attack for Leave campaigners, it is no surprise that Goldman BUSINESS IN EUROPE JUNE 2016 — 11

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