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Parliamentary question - E-005476/2015Parliamentary question
E-005476/2015

Europe's natural and necessary partnership with Russia for energy security

Question for written answer E-005476-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Nicolas Bay (NI) , Jean-Luc Schaffhauser (NI) , Bernard Monot (NI) , Mylène Troszczynski (NI) , Lorenzo Fontana (NI) , Aymeric Chauprade (NI) , Marie-Christine Arnautu (NI) , Franz Obermayr (NI) , Marcel de Graaff (NI) , Vicky Maeijer (NI) , Olaf Stuger (NI) , Bruno Gollnisch (NI) , Gilles Lebreton (NI) , Jean-François Jalkh (NI) , Marie-Christine Boutonnet (NI)

In an interview with the newspaper Le Figaro on 3 December 2014, Jérôme Ferrier, President of the International Gas Union (IGU), stated that ‘Europe cannot do without Russian gas’.

Experts and other independent commentators all appear to share this point of view, which Mr Ferrier set out with clarity and conviction.

It should be recalled that Europe received 167 Gm3 of gas from Russia in 2013 and 151 Gm3 in 2014; in spite of EU sanctions imposed at the request of the USA, direct gas supply from Russia to the European Union was increased by 10 Gm3 to compensate for the amount lost as a result of the crisis in Ukraine, led by those who are open enemies of Russia and whose interests lie outside Europe.

As many Member States are entirely dependent on Russian gas, and bearing in mind the importance of a stable, suitable, affordable and sustainable energy supply across Europe, should the Commission not be taking action to quickly restore positive relations with Russia, our natural and necessary partner, as uncertainty increases towards the Groningen gas field and the drop in UK production continues?