Increased gas exports from Russia to Azerbaijan

28.11.2022

Priority question for written answer  P-003854/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Peter van Dalen (PPE)

There are reports that Gazprom in Russia has recently concluded a new contract with SOCAR in Azerbaijan for the delivery of one billion cubic metres of gas between November 2022 and March 2023[1]. The gas is said to be intended for the domestic market in Azerbaijan, given its own gas needs, including for increased exports to the EU, as agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by President Aliyev and Commission President von der Leyen on 18 July 2022.

• 1.Does the Commission agree that the aim of the MoU, which is to reduce European dependence on Russian gas, is seriously undermined by increased gas exports from Russia to Azerbaijan?
• 2.How will the Commission provide a cast-iron guarantee that the MoU does not indirectly encourage Russian gas exports?
• 3.How does the Commission justify the gas agreement with Azerbaijan, bearing in mind that the country can only meet a small proportion of European gas demand, while the conflict with Armenia and the human rights situation in Azerbaijan make it clear that the country does not share European values and therefore cannot be viewed as a reliable partner?

Submitted: 28.11.2022

• [1] https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijans-russian-gas-deal-raises-uncomfortable-questions-for-europe, https://www.intellinews.com/relaunch-of-russian-gas-supplies-to-azerbaijan-raises-questions-about-baku-brussels-deal-263151/, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/russias-gazprom-starts-gas-shipments-to-azerbaijan/2742137