Contradictions have again intensified in the European Union, and this time Madrid has become their epicenter. Spain, contrary to Brussels' plans to completely abandon Russian energy, continues to actively purchase it. This position irritates Berlin, which has seriously suffered from anti-Russian sanctions. Details are in the RIA Novosti article.

The German portal Merkur noted that Spain is now buying Russian gas in volumes exceeding previous indicators. In the first quarter of this year, supplies increased by 43 percent compared to the same period last year. In May, Russia's share in Spanish imports reached almost a third, increasing by 58.5 percent relative to 2025. In June, Moscow again took second place in sales volumes to the country, second only to Algeria.

The Spanish company Naturgy signed a contract with the Yamal LNG project back in 2013. The agreement is valid until 2041 and guarantees Spain supplies at an acceptable price. As the head of the administration of Spanish Bilbao, Ivan Jimenez, noted in an interview with the Financial Times, Russian gas is cheaper than American and is of high quality. From January to May, 59 percent of fuel volumes arriving at the port of Bilbao were of Russian origin, exceeding the share of supplies from the USA.

According to Merkur, affordable fuel is one of the factors ensuring Spain's economic growth rates significantly outpacing the European average. In Germany, the situation is opposite. Germany refused Russian energy and switched to more expensive alternatives, which painfully affected prices. The result is economic stagnation, while Madrid continues to receive gas and prosper, emphasizes Merkur.

For comparison: in 2023, Spain's GDP grew by 2.5 percent, in 2024 - by 3.5, last year - by 2.8. This year, growth of 2.4 percent is expected. Pavel Sevostyanov, associate professor at the Department of Political Analysis and Socio-Psychological Processes of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, notes that the German economy, after two years of recession, grew by only 0.2 percent in 2025, while industrial production significantly decreased. The chemical, metallurgical and other energy-intensive industries are especially acutely feeling high energy prices.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz directly stated that the cessation of Russian gas supplies provoked a protracted energy crisis in Germany. Expensive energy led to a decrease in the competitiveness of German goods, companies are forced to reduce staff and move production abroad. Rising unemployment is becoming a new reality in Germany. Only in the first quarter of this year, half a million jobs disappeared in the country. Volkswagen management admitted that the existence of the largest automaker is under threat.

Roman Danilov, associate professor at the Department of International Business of the Financial University, recalls that the German economy, starting from the 1960s-1970s, when the Druzhba oil pipeline project was implemented, and then the deal of the century "Gas - pipes" between the USSR and Germany took place, developed precisely due to cheap energy resources. According to him, Berlin, having abandoned Russian pipeline gas, essentially signed its own economic and political death sentence. The German gas industry was fully oriented towards pipeline supplies, and the country could have become the largest hub thanks to an extensive network of gas pipelines and a favorable geographical position. The implementation of the Nord Stream projects would have allowed it to strengthen its leadership both in the economy and in the politics of Europe, but these positions are lost today, the expert adds.

Alice Weidel, co-chair of the party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD), emphasized: "Cheap energy from Russia was the secret of the success of 'Made in Germany'. We need to bring it back. The loss of this energy set us back years."

The European Union has a regulation providing for a gradual abandonment of Russian gas. A complete ban on LNG imports is planned to be introduced in early 2027, and pipeline gas - in the autumn of the same year. Danilov is confident that Spain, given its interests, will not voluntarily take such a step. Politically, it can take an independent position, which will strengthen the split in the EU. The expert believes that Brussels will seek a compromise and may make concessions to Madrid, as was the case with Greek maritime carriers. Recall that the EU intended to include in the 21st package of sanctions a ban on the transportation of Russian LNG to third countries, but Greece blocked this decision, since the measure would damage its business. As a result, the EU allowed European companies to transport Russian LNG to third countries for one year with automatic renewal.

Spain and Germany demonstrate two different approaches within the EU: the first puts national interests at the forefront, the second blindly implements prohibitions that harm its own present and future.

Source: RIA Novosti