EU-US energy pledge in the new trade deal: severe climate impacts of fracked liquefied natural gas imports and feasibility of energy purchases

Question for written answer E-003370/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Jutta Paulus (Verts/ALE)

In August 2025, the EU published a joint statement outlining the key parameters of the EU-US trade deal agreed upon in July 2025. It contains the promise of the EU to purchase USD 750 billion worth of US energy (natural gas, oil and nuclear energy products) over the next three years.

• 1.Is the Commission aware that almost all US oil and gas is extracted via fracking, a technique that was banned or heavily restricted in nearly all EU Member States due to its severe impacts on the environment, human rights and its significant contribution to global warming, making the carbon footprint of US liquified natural gas worse than that of coal and its methane intensity higher than that of other EU trading partners, such as Norway[1][2]?
• 2.Is the Commission aware that US global oil and gas exports currently amount to only about USD 166 billion annually, meaning that an EU commitment to purchase USD 250 billion worth of US energy could not realistically be met, thus creating a possible trap[3]?
• 3.Could the Commission explain what falls under 'non-tariff barriers that might restrict bilateral energy trade', mentioned in point 5 of the statement, and how these barriers will be addressed?

Submitted: 3.9.2025

• [1] Howarth, R. W., 'The greenhouse gas footprint of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exported from the United States', Energy Science & Engineering, Vol. 12, Issue 11, November 2024, https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ese3.1934.
• [2] 'Global Methane Tracker 2024 - Key findings - Methane emissions from the energy sector remained near a record high in 2023', International Energy Agency website, 2024, https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2024/key-findings.
• [3] Victor, J., 'The EU's "fantasy" $750B energy promise to Trump', Politico, 29 July 2025, https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-trade-war-donald-trump-us-oil-gas-energy/.