Christoph Grudler
The initiative was launched by Christophe Grudler, a French MEP from the liberal Renew group, who was supported by 20 other lawmakers. In the letter, he calls on the European Commission to reconsider its commitments under the EU-US trade agreement on energy purchases. The document will soon be sent to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, European Commissioner for Trade Maros Šefčovič and European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen.
The products include liquefied natural gas (LNG), oil, nuclear fuel and small modular reactors (SMRs). The signatories argue that the deal would undermine the EU’s climate goals, industrial competitiveness and the union’s strategic sovereignty.
“Increased imports of liquefied natural gas from US shale gas directly undermines our climate agenda and the regulation of methane emissions,” the letter says. – LNG is highly polluting when it is liquefied, transported across the Atlantic, and regasified. Such dependence is a climate time bomb.”
The letter also notes that in addition to energy concerns, the deal risks exposing the EU to “political blackmail.” The U.S. could demand changes to EU climate policy, including a carbon border adjustment mechanism under which the bloc would levy a carbon footprint tax on foreign imports starting Jan. 1, 2026.
From January 1, 2026, the EU plans to introduce a cross-border carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which will impose a carbon levy on imported goods produced in countries with less stringent climate regulations. This levy is linked to greenhouse gas emissions from the production of goods. Before its introduction, there is a transition period when importers are only required to declare the carbon footprint of products without paying the levy.
The energy purchase obligation is part of an agreement between the EU and the US reached over the summer. Some MEPs consider the agreement unbalanced, given that the U.S. continues to impose 15 percent duties on EU goods, while the EU has agreed to make major investments in the U.S., including in the energy and defense sectors.
In their letter, MEPs denounce the pledge to purchase $750 billion worth of energy over three years. The figure is called “astronomical”, while putting the entire Competitiveness Fund in perspective is €362 billion over seven years. “How can we ask European companies to buy massively from the United States and at the same time urge them to strengthen our competitiveness at home?” the signatories questioned.
The inclusion of US small modular reactors in the deal also raised concerns among MEPs. When the EU is building its own SMR supply chain, opening the door to US competitors is a no-brainer, they believe. And they emphasize that commercial decisions “should remain the prerogative of companies and not be pre-empted by political promises.”
