Qatar Issues Ultimatum to Europe

Qatar, one of the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has issued a stern warning to Europe, threatening to completely halt gas supplies if the European Union does not relax its new environmental and corporate responsibility legislation. This was announced by the country's Minister of Energy and head of QatarEnergy, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, at the ADIPEC energy conference.

At the heart of the dispute is the European Union's "Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive" (CSDDD). This new regulation requires European companies and their suppliers to identify and eliminate the negative impacts of their activities on human rights and the environment throughout the entire supply chain. Violations of the directive are subject to large fines, which can reach up to 5% of a company's total global turnover.

In his speech, Minister al-Kaabi clearly stated Qatar's position, noting that his country, as a hydrocarbon producer, cannot achieve zero emissions in the near future, which conflicts with the new EU requirements. He presented an undisguised ultimatum to his European partners.

This is not Qatar's first warning. Earlier, Doha sent an official letter to the Belgian government, informing them of a possible reduction in LNG supplies due to the CSDDD. If an agreement on easing the regulations is not reached, the Qatari authorities threaten to consider "alternative markets" for LNG sales.

This development poses a serious challenge to Europe's energy security. Since 2022, when imports of Russian gas were sharply reduced, Qatar has become a vital supplier for the EU, providing 12-14% of the EU's needs for this fuel. Now, Brussels faces a difficult choice: maintain its strict environmental policy at the risk of stable energy supplies, or make concessions to preserve relations with a crucial partner.