The EU is stepping up its talks and diplomatic efforts with international partners to seek new or increased gas supplies.
As the Committee on Energy’s spokesman Tim McFee said today, discussions on diversifying gas supplies to the EU have been under way for several months. For example, talks with Norway have already started since last October, but talks are also taking place with Qatar. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s conversation with the Emir of Qatar last week continued today in a telephone conversation between Energy Commissioner Kadri Simpson and the Qatari Minister of Energy. In addition, the Energy Commissioner will visit Azerbaijan on February 4 for the Energy Council on the Southern Gas Corridor, and next Monday, February 7, the EU-US Energy Council will meet in Washington with the participation of the Energy Commissioner and the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell.
Energy diversification is a long-term issue for the EU and discussions have intensified in recent months, due to rising gas prices that began in late summer, but also due to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
It is recalled that the joint statement on the issue of energy released on 28 January, following a telephone conversation between the President of the Commission and the President of the United States, Joe Biden, states that “the United States and the European Union are working together to continue “adequate and timely supply of gas to the EU from various sources around the world to avoid supply shocks, including those that could result from a further Russian invasion of Ukraine.” It also notes that “the US is already the largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU”.
Finally, regarding the NorthStream II pipeline, Tim McFee reminded that the approval process is currently in the hands of the German regulatory authority. Once the German regulatory authority approves the draft certification decision, it will be sent to the Commission, which will, in two months’ time, issue its opinion on the pipeline’s compliance with EU law.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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