No trouble with gas: Greens are sticking to the Qatar deal despite the EU raid

Created: 12/14/2022, 6:35 p.m

By: Bona Hyun

After the EU corruption scandal: The Greens plead to keep the gas contract with Qatar and the scandal separate.

© Michael Kappeler/dpa

Politicians had questioned the Qatar deal after the EU corruption scandal.

The Greens advocate keeping the gas contract and the scandal separate.

Brussels – After the corruption scandal in the European Parliament, calls have been made to reconsider business relations with Qatar.

Parliamentarian Dennis Radtke (CDU) spoke to our editors in favor of reviewing the Qatar deal.

But the Greens are fighting back and sticking to the deal: Economics Minister Robert Habeck and economic policy spokesman Dieter Janecek called for the corruption scandals and the gas deal not to be mixed up.

Right?

Would the Qatar deal even cover a large part of gas supply security in Germany?

"Two different things" - Greens plead for separation of EU corruption scandal and Qatar gas contract

In the past few days, the EU corruption scandal had caused horror in politics.

Economics Minister Habeck primarily focuses on Germany's gas supply security.

The corruption scandal in the EU Parliament, in which Vice President Eva Kaili is suspected, and the gas purchases are "two different things," said Habeck

on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 in Brussels, according to the

The economic policy spokesman for the Greens, Dieter Janecek, also agrees.

The federal government should not have any direct influence on the contractual partners, as there is no substantive connection between the allegations of corruption and the gas supply contract, said Janecek to IPPEN.MEDIA.

Suspicion of corruption in the EU Parliament: Green politician Janecek calls for "complete clarification"

However, both Habeck and Janecek acknowledged the seriousness of the corruption scandal and that further consequences would have to follow.

Janecek condemns "every form of corruption in the strongest possible terms" and calls for a "complete clarification of the case".

According to Janecek, it is once again becoming clear how important stricter transparency regulations and stricter bans on the acceptance of advantages are.

In addition, the politician supports the decision of the European Parliament to "suspend the planned negotiations on visa facilitation for Qatari citizens until further notice," said the Green politician to IPPEN.MEDIA

The serious allegations of corruption had already led to the dismissal of Vice President Kaili.

It is rumored that World Cup hosts Qatar could have influenced political EU decisions by paying money to Kaili.

Kaili has so far denied the allegations.

EU corruption scandal could freeze gas deal with Qatar - economic consequences would be "manageable"

There has not yet been a decision on how to proceed with the gas deal after the allegations of corruption in the EU Parliament.

Should the gas deal actually be put on hold as a result of the scandal, this would have “manageable” consequences for Germany, according to the Green Party spokesman for economic policy.

"However, the supply contract with Qatar plays no role in short-term energy security, since the first deliveries are not planned until 2026," said Janecek to IPPEN.MEDIA.

also read

Kosovo situation about to escalate: France "very worried" - Putin spokesman assures Serbia of help

READ

Kosovo conflict: USA reject Serbia's wish - Bundeswehr man sees "constant basis for escalations"

READ

Medvedev threatens the West with "the most powerful weapons of destruction" - Zelenskyj sets a condition for the peace plan

READ

Serbian military convoy is apparently rolling towards Kosovo – there is a risk of escalation in the middle of Europe

READ

US foundation co-finances “Last Generation” – oil heirs are probably behind it

READ

Fancy a journey of discovery?

My space

A few weeks ago, Qatar promised Germany the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) after Habeck's efforts to secure a contract.

In the announcement, Robert Habeck spoke of a "central building block for securing our energy supply in the coming winter".

Two million tons of liquid gas are to be shipped to Germany every year, which, according to Janecek, corresponds to "just over two percent of current German gas consumption".

The amount of LPG delivered is therefore small.

But as far as the quantity is concerned, the Qatari Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi recently promised unlimited deliveries.