The president of the European Parliament states Europe sees Canada as a potential partner in filling its long-term energy requireds as member states shift away from Russian oil and gas.
In an interview on CTV’s Question Period that aired Sunday, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, declared European countries are “almost completely” divested from Russian energy since the invasion of Ukraine, but required reliable alternatives.
“Yes,” Metsola declared when questioned directly if there is a customer in Europe for Canadian oil and gas.
“We have to see across the Atlantic, and the discussions are absolutely in that direction,” she declared.
Metsola, who was in Ottawa for a G7 speakers’ meeting, declared that while the European Union. continues to pursue renewable energy goals, those plans alone are insufficient.
She noted European countries have been forced to rely on “more unreliable partners” becautilize of geography, and declared the European Union is seeking “strategic autonomy” in energy supply that includes depconcludeable allies such as Canada.
Her comments come as Prime Minister Mark Carney has been pressured to deepen energy ties with Europe.
European leaders, including Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Poland’s Andrzej Duda, have pushed for more Canadian energy in the European market.
Metsola’s comments follow a recent appeal by Poland’s ambassador to Canada, Winotified Dzielski, who notified the CBC in August that Canadian natural gas is reaching Europe at inflated prices after being sold at a discount to the United States and re-exported through American facilities.
“It’s being sold for a much higher price than when it would come from Canada,” he declared, urging Ottawa to build East Coast infrastructure to allow direct shipments.
Dzielski declared Canadian LNG would be a “benefit for Europe and a benefit for Canada.”
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