Why the E.U. is Worried About America's New Sanctions Against Russia

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While the Senate was voting on health care on Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan bill H.R. 3364 — the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act” — which places new sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

The sanctions against Russia will target companies that have involvement with Russia’s energy exports, and that has the European Union Commission worried, particularly since it is likely to impact the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline project between Russia and Germany.

The proposed project would expand a current pipeline by carrying Russian natural gas beneath the Baltic Sea and would aid in Europe’s on-going reliance on Russian energy. The European Union Commission is meeting today to discuss next steps in response to the sanctions against Russia which could potentially weaken relations between the U.S. and the E.U.

For details on the meeting, The Takeaway turns to Kristine Berzina, a senior fellow based in Brussels with The German Marshall Fund.

This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich.