The EU wants to offer the USA free access to the European natural-gas and electricity network. By doing so, Brussels hopes to become less dependent on natural gas from Russia. On 11 July 2016 the Dutch financial newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad reported that all agreements on this issue have to be included in the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP), the imminent trade agreement between the EU and the USA.
According to the newspaper, the EU is going to propose a separate energy chapter within the TTIP agreement to the American negotiators in Brussels this week. That proposal should no longer prevent the Americans from exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU. In turn, Brussels should not place any restrictions on the supply of US electricity.
Environmentalists react furiously
According to the newspaper, environmental organisations are furious about the European proposal and think it should be called off. They point to the controversial technology of fracking, as applied in the production of American shale gas. Furthermore, by making this proposal, the EU is throwing their doors wide open for the American “stream” of coal, undermining Brussels’ own climate ambitions.
The fourteenth discussion round on TTIP in more than three years starts this week. Both Brussels and Washington are striving to come to an agreement before the end of 2016.
