Sanchez’s Spain’s industries enrich Putin: massive purchases of Russian LNG

Brussels – Even Pedro Sanchez’s Spain is funding Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war machine. Strange, yet true. Iberian companies are buying Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG)— and in a big way. Trade agreements and energy supply policies that turn the nose of Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez, Spanish EPP MEP, calling for accountability the European Commission and also demanding possible measures. Measures, however, that will not happen. As Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson recalls in her answer to the parliamentary question, “So far, Russian LNG has not been subject to sanctions, which means that companies are not prohibited from buying it.”

Therefore, Spanish companies are not violating any EU regulations or circumventing the sanctions decreed by the European Union against Russia and its president. Madrid’s government, in turn, cannot prevent Spanish companies from doing business with the Russians. It is true, Simson reminds us, that the last Commission proposal for the 14th sanctions package includes, among other things, restrictions on the transhipment of Russian LNG in European ports.” However, the proposed package “still requires unanimous adoption by the Council.”

The only thing that the executive can do—and Simson assures that the von der Leyen team “will continue” to do so—is “call on member states and companies” to stop buying Russian liquefied natural gas and not to sign new contracts for LNG with Russian companies once existing contracts expire. The Commission can pressure the Sanchez government to pressure Spanish companies, but without bans and sanctions, it is up to the individual company. 

With the European Union committed to weakening the Russian economy and undermining the Russian military’s ability to fund the war in Ukraine, the result, denounces the Spanish MEP, is that Pedro Sachez’s Spain “now imports more liquefied natural gas from Russia than any other European country.” He also provides data from the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). It emerges that the amount of Russian gas arriving at Spanish ports “registered new highs, increasing by 30 per cent in 2023 and has increased for two consecutive years.”

Zoido Álvarez criticises and accuses his own country’s government of “turning a blind eye,” but examining the report cited by the MEP, it appears that so far, not only Spain has continued to do business with Putin’s regime. Indeed, the IEEFA certifies that between January and September 2023, Spain turned out to be the largest importer of Russian LNG among EU countries, with 5.21 billion cubic meters imported. However, also others continue to feed the Russian war machine: Emmanuel Macron’s France (3.19 billion cubic meters purchased) and Belgium (orders for 3.14 billion cubic meters). 

Resale within the EU also weighs on Spain. IEEFA notes in black on white how Spain buys Russian LNG and then resells it to a third of EU member states, specifically Italy, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Sweden.