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Rabat – The European People’s Party (EPP) joined a growing chorus of EU parties and officials expressing concern regarding Algeria’s decision to terminate the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline contract.
Algeria decided to end the contract on October 31 as part of a series of provocative moves aimed at its western neighbor. The pipeline has been serving Spain with gas that flowed through Morocco since 1996.
EPP Vice-President Andrei Kovachev addressed a question to the European Commission on Algeria’s decision.
Kovachev pointed the finger to Algeria’s regime, describing its move as “unilateral.”
The European parliamentarian added that such a decision was taken at a “time when gas prices again reached record levels” on the eve of a particularly harsh European winter.
The situation caused frustration that the move could “exacerbate” the European energy crisis.
EPP members called on the European Commission to assess the risks associated with the non-renewal of the pipeline agreement and the measures that should be taken to avert a possible reduction in gas supplies.
Many observers and European politicians described the unilateral decision as blackmail on the part of Algeria against Europe.
Read Also: End of Maghreb-Europe Pipeline Contract Will Have No Immediate Impact on Morocco
Last week, Belgian Minister of State and Federal Deputy Andre Flahaut criticized Algeria for terminating the pipeline, saying that this move is a source for additional uncertainty in Europe.
The Belgian official recalled the increase in the price of gas and electricity, warning that this reflects a “real risk” for people in precarious situations as Algerian gas is commonly used to heat homes in Europe.
