EU: 'Fears over US energy dependency, let's look for alternatives'
European Commission explores alternative LNG suppliers to reduce geopolitical risks and aim for an independent and renewable energy future
"We will do what we can to ensure that trade relations" with the US "can be maintained but it is clear that geopolitical turmoil" such as the crisis in Greenland "is a wake-up call. I sense a growing concern, which I share, that we risk replacing one energy dependency" "with another. So we are actively looking for alternatives' for supplies. This was stated by EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen in an interview with a group of international media, including Ansa. The EU is already in contact with partners "able to provide us with Gnl", such as Qatar, Canada and North Africa, the commissioner pointed out.
Jorgensen anticipated that he will have several meetings with some of the countries concerned in the coming months 'with the aim of further improving our relations'. He made it clear, however, that he had had no contact with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright in the past two weeks. "We are grateful that it is now possible to import LNG" from the US "and that this import will increase in the months and years to come, because this is absolutely essential for us to be able to eliminate dependence on Russia," he acknowledged, confirming that it is not in the Berlaymont Palace's plans to reduce trade with the US in the short term. "We do not want trade conflicts," he assured.
The Danish politician made it clear, however, that in the long run the EU's goal must be to free itself completely from 'our dependence on gas in general' and 'we must recognise that things have changed' in transatlantic relations, so 'we must be prepared to be independent, to protect ourselves both from the point of view of security and our prosperity, relying on renewables as the main source of our energy,' he concluded.
On Hungary's announced appeal to the EU Court of Justice over the Russian gas stop, "EU trade legislation is adopted by qualified majority, but the result and the rules apply to everyone. If a country does not respect the legislation, then we will follow the procedures,' the EU Commissioner clarified.
Commenting on the EU Council's decision to proceed with a complete ban on natural gas imports from Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that European countries are condemning themselves to energy dependence, mainly on the US.
