Diplomatic tensions
Brussels and Vienna are arguing about Russian gas imports
September 7, 2023, 7:54 p.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More Info | Send feedback
There is a tension between the EU Commission and the Austrian government. The Alpine republic is still heavily dependent on energy shipments from Moscow, which the representative of the European Commission in Vienna criticizes. Now he is summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Vienna.
A high-ranking EU representative’s strong criticism of Austria’s dependence on Russian gas is causing diplomatic tensions. Martin Selmayr, the representative of the European Commission in Vienna, described the Austrian gas payments to belligerent Russia as “blood money”.
A spokeswoman for the ministry announced that the German EU diplomat would be summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Vienna for a discussion. At the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Austria received 79 percent of its gas imports from Russia. The proportion fell to 17 percent by October of the previous year. In the past few months, however, the values have been significantly higher again. In July, according to the Climate Protection Ministry, it was 66 percent.
At a discussion event in Vienna on Wednesday evening, Selmayr criticized Austria for financing Russia’s war in this way and that there were no protests against it. “That surprises me, because blood money is sent to Russia every day with the gas bill,” said Selmayr. As a rich country, Austria, like other countries, could get along without Russian gas, he said.
Austria’s European Minister Karoline Edtstadler from the conservative ÖVP described the criticism as “completely one-sided” and referred to Austria’s ongoing efforts. The government plans to phase out Russian gas by 2027. The ministry led by Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler said that there was a corresponding amendment to the law. But gas suppliers also have an important role to play in the switch to non-Russian imports, it said.