Member of European Parliament Dubravka Šuica participated in an exchange of views with Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, ahead of the big climate conference in Lima.

 
"I belong among those who believe that climate change is happening right at this moment, even as we meet here. I know that the European economy accounts for only 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions so I am interested in how you are planning to acquire authority and influencing the global reduction of greenhouse gases since the biggest actors have, so far, failed to respect international agreements?
 
Since we depend on Russian energy, especially on gas, I think that it is necessary to turn to other options. You know that I come from the south of Croatia and therefore I am interested in your view on the Trans Adriatic Pipeline. The diversification of supply sources protects us from the arbitrary will of suppliers who think they are holding all the strings and that they can impose conditions what they want through forms of pressure", Šuica concluded, highlighting the Russian monopoly on the transportat of gas to Europe.
 
Suica underlined that one of the options for gas independence is the EU and Trans Adriatic Pipeline, which is important for Croatia, but also Southeast Europe as it provides for a connection to gas from Azerbaijan, which would reduce the dependence on Russian energy.
 
Cañete answered that he stands for the South Stream and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, but that they should be preceded by serious discussions with Member States. It is necessary to achieve the internal market, and ultimately, the Energy Union, and only then will the EU be energy independent even though it is known that energy, unfortunately, is used as a means of political pressure.