Spanish PM in Poland: Spain has capacity to become gas hub in Europe

Polish and Spanish intergovernmental consultations were held on Wednesday in Warsaw, under the leadership of prime ministers Mateusz Morawiecki and Pedro Sanchez. The two countries also signed a memorandum regarding cooperation in the field of defence and

Spain has the capacity to become a gas hub for Europe to help support regional efforts to curb dependence on Russian gas, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a news conference with his Polish counterpart on Wednesday.

"Spain is a country that shows solidarity, it’s a responsible country and, as I said to Prime Minister Morawiecki, (EU) member states and the European Commission, we will give everything we can so that Europe is not Putin’s energy hostage," Sanchez said.

"Spain is prepared to increase its solidarity measures," Spanish PM said, adding that 20% of its imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) was re-exported to other EU countries in June.

"We have an important re-gasification infrastructure in Europe, the most important one in Europe. We will make it available, we are already making that entire re-gasification capacity available to our European partners, we think Spain has the opportunity to become a natural liquified gas hub that we will be able to export and become an alternative to Russian gas for many countries in the European Union," PM Sanchez said.

"We have spoken about how important it is that Ukraine keeps its sovereignty, territorial integrity and its independence. Poland is doing all it can to make it so, but Madrid - even though 3,000 kilometres away from Ukraine - has risen to the challenge. Shoulder to shoulder we fought for these European values, freedom, the right to live, democracy, independence, sovereignty," PM Morawiecki said.

"Our countries are therefore writing the latest history of the continent," he said, underscoring the importance of the consultations between Poland and Spain. "I wish the EU as a whole had such an understanding like the one I see on Spain's part for all issues related with this war," he added.

Morawiecki also stressed Poland and Spain shared the same view on gas issues. "Spain perfectly understands the necessity of becoming independent from Russian gas, although it is in a better situation than Poland, as it was much less dependent in the past," he argued.

He also praised Spain and Poland's cooperation in EU negotiations on gas use reduction deal. "We have changed the original proposal by the European Commission so that it fits our expectations," Polish PM said.

He also expressed his satisfaction that Spain was supporting Poland on issues relating to NATO, security as well as enforcing of the eastern flank of the Alliance.