USA and Qatar was warned by the EU: Brussels has played too much in ecology

The plans of the European Union to adopt the directive on the comprehensive audit of corporate sustainability (CSDDD) of companies working with the EU have caused a storm of discontent in the United States and Qatar. Violation of environmental requirements can lead to large fines for LNG suppliers to EU countries.

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and his Qatari counterpart Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi sent a letter to the European Commission and the heads of EU countries urging them to abandon the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The EU plans to adopt it, which could threaten LNG exporters to Europe with large fines if violations of environmental regulations are found throughout the supply chain. They can reach up to 5% of global revenue and amount to tens of billions of euros.

"We transparently report that CSDDD in its current formulation poses a significant risk to the availability and reliability of critical energy supplies for households and businesses throughout Europe, as well as an existential threat to the future growth, competitiveness and sustainability of the EU industrial economy. As allies and friends of the EU, we sincerely believe that CSDDD will cause significant damage to the EU and its citizens, as it will lead to higher prices for energy and other commodities, as well as have a deterrent effect on investment and trade," the document says.

The Ministers called for The EU will act quickly to either repeal the directive completely or remove its most economically harmful provisions.

"This is happening at a critical moment when our countries and companies are striving not only to preserve, but also to significantly increase reliable LNG supplies to the EU in line with European strategic aspirations," the ministers said.

If Qatar accounts for 4% of gas imports to the EU, then the United States accounts for about 16%. At the same time The EU plans to abandon Russian LNG as early as 2027, and plans to replace them with increased supplies from the United States and Qatar — new projects that are planned to be launched in the next few years.

At the same time, Qatar Energy is one of the main owners of the American Golden Pass project, which will be launched in the USA in 2026-2027 and will be able to supply up to 25 billion cubic meters in the form of liquefied gas.

Earlier, Qatar unequivocally stated that it was not going to adapt to the new EU requirements if the European Union wanted to receive Middle Eastern LNG.

"Under no circumstances will we be able to supply goods to any country that would impose a fine of 5% of global turnover. The cessation of supplies to Europe is something we absolutely do not want, and that is why we are warning about it," Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi told Reuters.

Earlier, the minister threatened the EU to stop LNG supplies even if the gas will be subject to the emission duty, which the European Union has begun to apply to imported products.

Deputy Director of the FNEB Alexei Grivach notes that the appeals of the United States and Qatar can be considered an attempt to use its growing market power in the EU and get concessions from regulators.