Austrian Member of the European Parliament Thomas Waitz, from the Greens/EFA Group, has submitted a series of written questions to the European Commission regarding plans and ongoing discussions about the development of new fossil gas infrastructure in EU candidate countries, including Kosovo.
In his questions, submitted earlier this month, Waitz notes that Kosovo has already adopted its Energy Strategy, is finalizing its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), is implementing obligations under its Climate Law, and is preparing its voluntary climate commitments.
However, he points out that political discussions surrounding the construction of fossil gas infrastructure have recently intensified, despite the fact that Kosovo currently has no gas market, no distribution network, no storage facilities, and no identified domestic demand for natural gas.
Through three written questions, Waitz asks the European Commission how it assesses proposals to build new fossil gas infrastructure in candidate countries that lack existing gas systems, and whether such projects are compatible with the objectives of the EU Green Agenda, obligations under the Energy Community Treaty, and the ongoing preparation of National Energy and Climate Plans.
He also asks whether energy investments by third countries and international partners should be aligned with the officially adopted national energy strategies of candidate countries and with the realities on the ground, in order to ensure consistency with the EU-backed energy transition.
Finally, the Austrian MEP seeks clarification on how the European Commission intends to support evidence-based public debate and strategic energy planning in enlargement countries at a time when discussions about fossil gas are increasingly shaping political discourse, despite long-term commitments to decarbonization, expanding renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
