Austrian MEP Angelika Winzig (PPE) has asked the European Commission whether it plans to establish a strategic energy partnership with the United Arab Emirates following the UAE's withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ on 1 May 2026. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 10 June 2026, Winzig argues that the UAE could become a more important partner for the EU, not only as an energy supplier but also as a guarantor of security of supply, infrastructure, and regional resilience. She stresses that closer cooperation must avoid creating new fossil fuel dependencies and should instead combine diversification, resilience, and transformation.
first, whether the Commission is considering a strategic energy partnership with the UAE to ensure security of supply, competitive prices, and diversification; second, how the Commission intends to integrate secure maritime trade and energy routes in the Gulf into its energy and foreign policy; and third, what measures are planned to weave decarbonisation, hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic fuels, and European industrial competitiveness into such a partnership.
Winzig's question reflects a policy orientation that seeks to balance short-term energy security with long-term climate goals. In the short term, she sees potential in oil products, LNG, and supply flexibility; in the medium term, infrastructure, storage, and industrial cooperation; and in the long term, hydrogen, ammonia, and synthetic fuels. She also highlights the importance of de-escalation in the Gulf, open sea lanes—particularly the Strait of Hormuz—and protection of civilian energy infrastructure as prerequisites for stable markets.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether the EU executive is open to deepening energy ties with the UAE in the wake of OPEC+ changes, and how it intends to balance energy security, decarbonisation, and industrial competitiveness in the Gulf region.