Canada key to Europe’s energy future: European Parliament president

The president of the European Parliament says Europe sees Canada as a potential partner in filling its long-term energy needs as member states move away from Russian oil and gas.

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The president of the European Parliament says Europe sees Canada as a potential partner in filling its long-term energy needs as member states move 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, said European countries are “almost completely” divested from Russian energy since the invasion of Ukraine, but need reliable alternatives.

“Yes,” Metsola said when asked directly if there is a customer in Europe for Canadian oil and gas.

“We have to look across the Atlantic, and the discussions are absolutely in that direction,” she said.

Metsola, who was in Ottawa for a G7 speakers’ meeting, said 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” because of geography, and said the European Union is seeking “strategic autonomy” in energy supply that includes dependable 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, Witold Dzielski, who told 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 said, urging Ottawa to build East Coast infrastructure to allow direct shipments.

Dzielski said Canadian LNG would be a “benefit for Europe and a benefit for Canada.”