Gas diplomacy: why the EU again accused Moscow of using energy as a political tool

EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell wrote on his blog that Moscow is using its energy resources as a political tool, as it alleged happened in Moldova.

“Russia uses energy as an instrument of political influence (for example, in Moldova).

And although, strictly speaking, it is fulfilling its obligations on gas supplies, many consider Russia's refusal to increase the volume of exports (of blue fuel.

) to Europe or to replenish Gazprom's storage facilities as a means of putting pressure on the EU, in particular to ensure the licensing of Severny flow - 2 ", - says Borrell.

He also noted that the European Commission does not consider this pipeline a priority project.

According to him, Nord Stream 2 "remains a subject of discussion" and "in any case will have to comply with the requirements of European legislation."

Earlier, Russia, in response to such accusations about the use of energy as a political instrument, has repeatedly emphasized that it does not use energy resources for blackmail.

In particular, this was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.

According to her, Moscow uses gas "for mutually beneficial cooperation," and the EU "knows very well."

Russia also denied accusations regarding pressure on Moldova over gas.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, some Western colleagues, including "noticeably more active" Borrell, commenting on the agreements between Gazprom and Moldovagaz, for some reason considered it "possible and appropriate" to convict Moscow of exerting political pressure on Chisinau.

“This is not so, this is a continuation of attempts to interpret what is happening with unsuitable means,” the minister said.

Lavrov also noted that when economic entities, and in a specific case, Gazprom and Moldovagaz, come to any agreements, it means that they are satisfied with the conditions underlying such agreements.

As a reminder, at the end of October, the gas supply agreement between Gazprom and Chisinau was extended for five years.

According to the company's press release, the contract has been extended "on mutually beneficial terms."

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Moldova, during the negotiations, the parties approved the formula for calculating the gas price and the procedure for auditing the debt of Moldovagaz.

• Gazprom symbols

• RIA News

• © Alexander Galperin

“The Moldovan government has asked Gazprom not to stop gas supplies ... As an exception, Gazprom, showing goodwill and understanding what a difficult situation the citizens of Moldova may face, agreed with this request,” said company spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov.

"Ignores common sense"

As Nikita Danyuk, deputy director of the RUDN Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts, a member of the Public Chamber of Russia, noted in a conversation with RT, the new accusation against Russia by Josep Borrell indicates that Brussels is trying with all its might to make the Russian Federation guilty of the energy crisis in Europe.

“And this is being done quite hypocritically, the head of European diplomacy hangs accusations on Moscow, but then says that the Russian side did not violate its obligations on gas supplies.

Moscow really acts within the framework of the agreements, but the EU accuses it in fact of being a sovereign state and acting on the basis of its national interests, ”the expert said.

In addition, Borrel's reference to the situation around Moldova is a manifestation of hypocrisy, Danyuk believes.

“Russia behaved nobly, agreeing to continue gas supplies to the republic, despite the fact that Chisinau did not return the debt to Moscow, showing itself as an unreliable and, in fact, simply dishonorable partner.

Of course, Borrell's logic is extremely difficult to understand: Moldova violates the agreements, the Russian Federation provides it with preferential terms for gas, and again Russia is to blame.

The head of diplomacy here calls white black and black white, ”the analyst said.

According to Vladimir Olenchenko, senior researcher at the Center for European Studies at the IMEMO RAS, when making such theses, the head of European diplomacy "ignores common sense."

“Borrell’s statement relays the groundless and unfounded accusations against Russia presented in the Western media.

If the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security were looking for the truth, he would not have come out with such a position, "the expert said in an interview with RT.

In addition, Borrell actually downplays the importance of Nord Stream 2, calling it a non-priority for the European Commission, although against the backdrop of the energy crisis it is obvious that this particular pipeline can save the situation, Olenchenko said.

“No statements by Borrell can hinder the implementation of the project.

Russia supplies gas of good quality and at a favorable price, the Russian Federation is a reliable supplier, and Europe is aware of this, ”the analyst stated.

• European Commission

• AFP

• © Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD

According to Danyuk, Borrell's characterization of Nord Stream 2 as a non-priority project for the European Commission looks rather strange in the context of the current energy crisis in Europe.

“It seems that Borrell and the Brussels bureaucracy live in a parallel world.

Maybe this is not a priority for the European Commission, but for the European population, the launch of the pipeline would mean a significant reduction in prices for electricity and heating, as well as normalization of the situation on the blue fuel market.

But Brussels stubbornly ignores the fact that the project is beneficial in the first place to Europe, ”the expert said.

No guarantees

It is worth noting that in the context of further accusations against Russia against the background of energy problems in Europe, Josep Borrell also raised the issue of security in his blog.

“No country can improve its own security without taking into account the security of the EU as a whole.

This should be the main principle aimed at strengthening the European Union and resisting attempts to split us, ”he said.

The head of European diplomacy also noted that the EU should take part in any discussions related to the European security architecture, including those initiated by Moscow.

“This Friday the Russian Foreign Ministry published draft agreements on security guarantees between Russia and the United States, as well as the European members of NATO.

Obviously, the EU should be an integral part of such discussions, ”Borrell said.

As a reminder, on December 17, Moscow sent Washington draft agreements with the United States and a security agreement with NATO.

The first document deals, in particular, with the obligation of the United States to prevent the expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance in an eastern direction, to refuse to include states that were previously part of the USSR in the bloc, to create bases on their territory, as well as to develop bilateral military cooperation with them.

The agreement with NATO refers to the obligations of the member countries of the alliance, which exclude further expansion of the bloc, including the accession to it of Ukraine and other states of Eastern Europe, Transcaucasia and Central Asia.

According to Nikita Danyuk, Borrell's statement about the EU's desire to join the discussion with Russia speaks of Brussels' awareness that "there is no need to talk about any European security without the Russian Federation."

• EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell

• Reuters

• © Kenzo Tribouillard / Pool

“However, the European Union cannot give any guarantees on its part, since it is not a full-fledged subject in the military-political plan, NATO is engaged in all this.

The alliance has a completely different leadership, often far from the European bureaucrats and guided by completely different principles, ”the expert said.

However, as Danyuk predicted, despite Brussels' willingness to take part in a security dialogue with the Russian Federation, attacks towards Moscow will continue to sound, including because of the energy crisis in Europe.

“This is a classic translation of the arrows, albeit in a diplomatic way, which is used to disguise their failures and failed policies, including ineffective measures in the energy sector,” the analyst concluded.