Qatar is the world’s third largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), after the US and Australia, according to Reuters. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it has provided 12% to 14% of European LNG.
In a letter to the Belgian government dated May 21, Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad al-Qaabi said the country is responding to the Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) of EU Companies.
“Simply put, if no further changes are made to CSDDD, the Qatar and Katarenel status will have no choice but to seriously consider alternative markets other than the EU for LNG and other products.
A spokesman for Belgium’s representative to the EU declined to comment on the letter, first reported by German newspaper Welt Am Sonntag.
The European Commission also received a letter from Qatar dated May 13, a spokesperson for the committee told Reuters, saying that EU lawmakers and the country are currently negotiating changes to the CSDDD.
“Now, they’re going to negotiate and adopt the substantial simplification changes proposed by the committee,” the spokesman said.
Brussels will need to reduce its supply chain by proposing changes to CSDDD earlier this year, delaying its launches by mid-2028 every year and limiting checks.
Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 5% of global sales.
Qatar said changes to the EU have not progressed sufficiently.
In the letter, Kaabi said Qatar is particularly concerned with CSDDD requirements for businesses with climate change transition plans in line with the Paris Agreement’s target of preventing global warming above 1.5 centigrade 1.5 centigrade.
MNA