DISINFO: The EU gas problems are a result of its fight for “energy independence”
SUMMARY
There is no reduction in the gas supply from Russia to Europe. On the contrary, Gazprom is strictly meeting its contractual obligations and increasing the exports volume. Meanwhile, a frustrated Europe has invented a conspiracy theory that Moscow uses energy blackmail for a quick launch of the Nord Stream 2.
Europe can only blame itself for the fact that the Russian gas “virtual reserve” is limited. It is a direct result of the European fight for “energy independence”, which has been actively waged throughout 10-15 years. Europe does not see or does not want to see the simplest solution to the problem: it is just necessary not to politicise the energy sector, not to create difficulties for the most reliable gas supplier [Gazprom] and not to limit its competitive advantages.
RESPONSE
Repeated pro-Kremlin disinformation related to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the Russian gas policy in Europe.
In August-September 2021, the European market faced an unprecedented spike in gas prices. One of the reasons for this situation is a visible reduction of the Russian gas supplies to Europe. For example, the gas supply via the Yamal-Europe pipeline was reduced by more than 50%. In this situation, the experts accuse Russia of weaponising the gas supplies in order to exert pressure on the EU. In September 2021, a group of EU Parliament members appealed to investigate the role of Gazprom in the massive increase in gas prices in Europe. This situation is perceived as a Russian pressure on the EU to accelerate the launch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
In the past, Russia used its energy resources multiple times as a weapon against other countries, attempting to coerce these countries to follow a pro-Kremlin line.
Russian energy companies have made multiple attempts over the past 30 years to use energy supplies to advance Moscow’s strategic priorities. Events in Ukraine both in 2009 and in 2014 are two cases in point, while another example can be observed in Lithuania. Russia has a long track record of using gas export to Belarus as a political tool.
The European Energy Security Strategy is not aimed against Russia or any other supplier of energy sources. Thus, it does not include the complete rupture of energy cooperation with the Russian Federation. The EU Energy Security Strategy was released in May 2014 – it aims to ensure a stable and abundant supply of energy for European citizens and the economy. Regarding its long-term measures, it proposes actions based on eight key pillars, like protecting strategic infrastructure, moderating energy demand, building a well-functioning and fully integrated internal market, increasing energy production in the European Union, diversifying external supplies and related infrastructure and further developing energy technologies. In other words, the EU Energy Security Strategy is a comprehensive document, which suggests numerous changes to the EU’s energy policy, including the diversification of energy sources.
See more cases concerning European energy issues, including Europe catastrophically lacks gas; the US wants to completely capture the European gas market and the US would like to resell Russian gas to Europe.