The Qatar-EU show intensifies

On May 21, 2025, a missive written on Qatar header paper arrived on the Belgian government’s office. Similarly, At first glance, a simple diplomatic correspondence. Similarly, But when reading the content, the energy issues of the continent crystallized there with rare brutality.

The European Union caught up in its own climate agenda – Qatar-eu show intensifies

In this letter. Furthermore, the Qatari Energy Minister-and CEO of Qatarenergy-Saad al-Kaabi, did without detour the consequences of the European directive on reasonable diligence in sustainability, officially appointed Corporate Sustainability Due Directive Diligence (CSDDD). Therefore, A law adopted on June 13. Meanwhile, 2024, the promise of which is clear: forcing large companies operating in the EU to be identified, correcting, and preventing human rights and environmental abuses in the entire value chain.

In the crosshairs of Qatar. Nevertheless, a precise provision: the obligation for these companies to present a climate transition plan qatar-eu show intensifies aimed at carbon neutrality, in accordance with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, that is to say, limit global warming to 1.5 ° C. Nevertheless, An ambition that Doha considers incompatible with his interests.

Qatar, GNL giant, threatens its European partners – Qatar-eu show intensifies

Qatar is not just any supplier. However, In 2025. it represents between 12% and 14% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imported by the European Unionaccording to data compiled after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The signal sent by Doha is therefore anything but symbolic.

In his letter addressed to the Belgian government. Saad al-Kaabi does not mince his words: ” In simple terms, if other changes are not made to the CSDDD, the state of Qatar and Qatarenergy will have no choice but to seriously consider alternative markets outside the EU for our LNG and other products, which offer a more stable and more welcoming commercial qatar-eu show intensifies environment ».

In short. if Europe persists in its legislative trajectory, it could lose a key gas supplier – unless it accepts a revision of its environmental and social standards. Doha believes that these rules threaten its energy sovereignty and imposes a unilateral vision of the transition.

Europe in turmoil: between green ambitions. energy blackmail

Faced with this pressure, Brussels finds himself stuck between two lines of flaw. On the one hand, the climate emergency and the growing requirements of European citizens. On the other, the fear of a new energy supply crisis a few months from winter 2025.

The European Commission. by the voice of its spokesperson, confirmed that it has received another official letter from Qatar, dated May 13, 2025. EU institutions are currently in the phase of renegotiation of the text. To appease tensions. several adjustments have been proposed: postponement of entry into force in mid-2018, qatar-eu show intensifies limitation of required controls, or reduction of planned sanctions, which can go up to 5% of global turnover for faulty companies.

But for Doha, these concessions remain largely insufficient. The Emirate refuses any obligation of short -term carbon neutrality. believing that this violates the fundamental principle of the Paris Agreement: the right of each State to freely define its “contributions determined at the national level” (CDN).

An ideological confrontation beyond the only LNG

This showdown far exceeds gas pipes and consumption meters. It crystallizes a deep divergence between a Europe which intends to moralize its economic exchanges. a Qatar which claims a development at its own pace. By offering squarely the pure. simple suppression of the climatic component of the directive, Doha is not content to protest: he tries to impose his conditions, by focusing on the persistent energy dependence of the old continent. And the ultimatum is not qatar-eu show intensifies without consequences: long -term contracts signed with totalnergies. Shell or Eni could be called into question. A reconfiguration of the global LNG market is to be feared, with repercussions on energy prices and global climate diplomacy.