Brussels, 21 July 2022(TDI): The European Union (EU) has urged the member states to cut gas demand by 15% until March. The emergency plan was set out to mitigate the deepening effect of likely supply disruption from the Kremlin during winter.
Brussels has announced a plan named “Save Gas for a Safe Winter” to reduce gas usage, which Russia could use as a weapon in winter.
Meanwhile, many countries are already facing gas shortages, which are likely to intensify during wintertime.
The new regulation would set a target for all member states to reduce gas demand by 15%. This is between August 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.
Russia is weaponising its gas supplies.
We need to prepare now for further disruptions – including for a complete stop of Russian gas deliveries.
Today we present the “Save gas for a safe winter” package. It will help us to save 15% of annual gas consumption. ⬇️
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) July 20, 2022
According to the EU Commission President, EU countries should do their best now to save 15% of annual gas consumption.
As a result, the EU is guiding countries to do that smartly. In the meantime, the goal is aspirational. In the case of a European alert, the 15% is binding, as alluded to by the EU commission head, Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, who wrote on Twitter.
EU countries should do their best now to save 15% of annual gas consumption.
We are providing guidance to do that, in a smart way.
Right now the goal is aspirational.
In case of a European alert, the 15% are binding.
The quicker we act, the more we save, the safer we are. pic.twitter.com/4ONV83T6Kh
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 20, 2022
The EU Commission President added that
“Some Member States are more vulnerable to disruptions. But we would all suffer the consequences of such a disruption through the Single Market. This is why all need to be ready to share gas with the Member States in need.”
Some Member States are more vulnerable to disruptions.
But we would all suffer the consequences of such a disruption through the Single Market.
This is why all need to be ready to share gas with Member States in need. pic.twitter.com/lx3FJK6XiG
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 20, 2022
Furthermore, the proposed measures need approval from the majority of EU members. Besides, EU diplomats will discuss it on Friday, aiming to approve it at the upcoming meeting of their Energy Ministers on July 26th.
On July 19th, the IMF warned the EU in a blog post that Russia could use the energy as a weapon and could choke off the block.
Moreover, in most affected countries, there is a risk of shortages of as much as 40 per cent of gas consumption and of gross domestic product shrinking by up to 6 per cent.
These countries include those in Central and Eastern Europe; Hungary; the Slovak Republic; and the Czech Republic.
