London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Qatar scandal gives Europe a big gas headache

Qatar scandal gives Europe a big gas headache

With the EU desperate to ditch Russian gas, the European Parliament corruption crisis shows there’s no easy alternative.

The alleged Qatar corruption scandal engulfing the European Parliament could not have come at a more awkward time for gas-poor EU countries — and for Germany in particular. 

The Gulf state is at the center of cash-for-influence allegations that have shaken EU democracy to its core. But as a major exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Qatar is also vital to Europe’s plans for coping with the energy crisis.
Qatar's importance as a reliable source of gas is only set to grow in the months ahead, adding a layer of complexity to the diplomatic equation for EU countries, if Belgian authorities formally implicate Doha in their ongoing corruption probe. For Germany in particular, desperate to find alternative suppliers to Russia, the furor highlights how, in the world of energy geopolitics, there are rarely any easy options. 

Overall imports of Qatari LNG represented just under 5 percent of the EU’s gas imports so far this year, according to European Commission figures. But the importance of Qatar to Europe’s energy security is set to grow thanks to a mega-expansion of its LNG production capacity, with two major projects due to be completed in 2026 and 2027. 

Germany was first in line. Berlin is among the EU capitals most desperate to secure alternative supplies of gas, having been dependent on Russia for no less than 55 percent of its supply prior to the war in Ukraine.

Last month German firms signed a 15-year gas contract with state-owned QatarEnergy and the U.S. firm ConocoPhillips, guaranteeing 2 million metric tons of LNG annually starting from 2026. That is the year when the first phase of Qatar’s capacity expansion — a Persian Gulf development known as North Field East — comes on-stream. 

“Several EU countries — such as Italy — have become more interested in Qatari LNG, but most of them have discussed spot market deals” that would supply gas immediately, said Cinzia Bianco, research fellow on Europe and the Gulf at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) think tank. “Germany is the only EU country that has signed a significant long-term energy agreement with Qatar."

That deal, while good for energy security, risks becoming an ethical nightmare for Berlin. Asked on Tuesday, after a meeting of EU energy ministers in Brussels, whether it was right to “buy gas from Qatar if Qatar buys European MPs,” Germany’s Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the issues should be regarded as “two different things.” 

“Bribery is a criminal offense,” he said. “Trade with other countries always has to be weighed with the moral consequences that you enter into and at the same time you have to see that you can ensure security of supply. And in this case, where it’s a question of gas purchases, Europe or Germany has an interest in compensating for the loss of Russian gas. So I think we have to distinguish between the two.” 

In other words, energy security is too important to get mixed up in the European Parliament scandal. The Qatari government has previously denied any wrongdoing. On Sunday, Doha hit back against the allegations and accused Brussels of taking "discriminatory" action against Qatar based on "inaccurate" information. In a statement reported by media, a Qatari diplomat said that the European Parliament’s response to the scandal could “negatively affect … ongoing discussions around global energy poverty and security.”

However, that position does not wash with everyone. German Christian Democrat MEP Dennis Radtke had previously questioned the gas contracts with the Gulf state and demanded a review of the gas-supply contracts.

The scandal could also put more pressure on Germany’s ruling coalition, in which the Greens have found themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to endorse deals for significant new fossil supplies — and the LNG infrastructure to import them. Asked whether Berlin should review its deal with Qatar, Rasmus Andresen, MEP and spokesperson of the German Greens in the European Parliament, responded: “We currently look at everything related to Qatar in the European Parliament, and others should do that too.”

Fellow German Green MEP Henrike Hahn said Qatari gas was “not a long-term solution” to Germany’s energy security but was “currently the lesser evil compared to Russia.”


Germany’s new Wilhelmshaven terminal will allow it to import liquified natural gas by ship

Germany is not the only EU country with deep energy ties to Qatar. French energy giant TotalEnergies holds significant stakes in both the North Field East LNG development, which it describes as the world’s biggest LNG project, and in its sister project, North Field South. Italy’s Eni also holds a stake in North Field East. 

Bianco of the ECFR said if Belgian authorities publicly implicate Qatar in the Brussels corruption scandal, “official diplomatic complaints” from EU countries will likely follow. Energy links with Qatar are largely held by individual member states, she added. But she predicted that the scandal could have the effect of delaying any moves toward a future energy partnership between the EU and Qatar.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×