Impact of the Nord Stream Gas Pipeline Sabotage on the Energy Security of Germany and the V4 Countries

Abstract

The Nord Stream pipelines have long played a pivotal role in Europe’s natural-gas supply, symbolising both strategic interdependence and geopolitical tension. The 2022 sabotage, which disabled most of the system, triggered unprecedented supply-security challenges and market volatility. This study adopts a multidisciplinary qualitative approach, combining legal analysis, geopolitical assessment, and systematic evaluation of energy-security data. Primary sources include EU legislation, Court of Justice case law, environmental assessments, and comparative data on V4 and German natural-gas systems. Findings show that the sabotage accelerated Europe’s shift toward diversified gas sources, including LNG and alternative pipeline corridors. V4 countries display varying resilience: Poland has markedly reduced Russian dependence, while Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia remain more structurally constrained. Legally, the analysis of case T-526/19 confirms the EU’s authority to apply internal-market rules to pipelines from third countries. Nord Stream exemplifies the intersection of infrastructure, law, and geopolitics, underscoring the need for diversified supply routes and adaptable regulatory frameworks.