A senior Qatari diplomat has warned that the EU’s handling of a corruption scandal that has rocked the European Parliament threatens to “negatively affect” security co-operation and discussions about global energy security between the bloc and the gas-rich Gulf state, Financial Times reports.
However, Qatar was not threatening to cut LNG supplies to Europe or politicise gas exports, the diplomat, who has knowledge of the position, told the FT on Sunday. The scandal centres on allegations that Qatar and Morocco sought to bribe EU legislators to influence policy.
Four people have been charged with corruption, money laundering and being part of a criminal gang after police seized almost €1.5mn in cash at the homes of one current and one former MEP in Brussels. The Qatari government has denied being involved. It has heavily criticised the EU’s decision to suspend legislative work related to Qatar but not Morocco, believing it has been unfairly singled out.
“The decision to impose such a discriminatory restriction that limits dialogue and co-operation on Qatar before the legal process has ended, will negatively affect regional and global security co-operation, as well as ongoing discussions around global energy poverty and security,” the diplomat said.
The diplomat added: “Despite Qatar’s commitment to growing the partnership further, it is deeply disappointing that the Belgian government made no effort to engage with our government to establish the facts once they became aware of the allegations.”
But the diplomat said: “We aren’t threatening to cut supplies or anything. We are simply saying [that] to stop communication in the EU parliament this way limits co-operation.”
