EU warns US gas push could lock Western Balkans into fossil fuel dependence

Western Balkan states - Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina - are seeking sizable US LNG imports or related pipeline projects, presenting the gas as a bridge while they phase out Russian fuel and coal. EU officials contend that these nations currently have minimal internal gas consumption, so the deals risk creating a lasting dependency on American fossil fuels and jeopardising the EU's 2050 climate goals. A draft agreement between Washington and Bosnia-Herzegovina to build a pipeline from Croatia's Krk island has sparked controversy because a Bosnian law named AAFS, a firm linked to associates of former US President Donald Trump, as the main operator, raising corruption and decarbonisation concerns.

The European Commission and the Energy Community stressed that EU legislation does not dictate suppliers but requires transparent, competitive conditions, warning against any market exceptions. Neither the Bosnian interconnector nor the Albanian 20-year supply memorandum with Greece and Venture Global have been ratified, and Kosovo has not made a final decision. US Department of Energy officials claim the projects will enhance regional stability, lower energy prices and promote prosperity, while Balkan leaders argue gas is essential for reliable baseload power as renewable capacity expands.