We call on Member States to reduce their gas consumption by 15%. That corresponds to 45 billion cubic meters of gas. With such a reduction, we can safely get through the winter in the event of a complete failure of Russian gas. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explains the content of the regulation and the communication Saving gas for a safe winter. Because it is not easy to predict what Putin’s next step will be. But it is clear that he will continue to try to divide and harm us, said Vice-President Frans Timmermans. So now we have to conserve gas to heat our homes and keep industry running in the winter. The Nord Stream is expected to return to service today after being suspended for maintenance.
The 15% reduction target to be achieved between 1 August and 31 March 2023 is the same for all Member States. Each country is free to choose how to achieve the goal. The absolute amount to be saved depends on the national energy mix. The more you depend on petrol, the greater the expense. For Italy, the average should be around 8.3 billion cubic meters. The Commission is proposing a two-stage approach: In the first phase – said EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson – we are asking Member States to reduce gas demand on a voluntary basis by 15% compared to their own historical average consumption of 5% Years. If Member States do not make sufficient progress or the situation worsens, we propose that the Commission can declare an EU state of alert at any time. This obliges Member States to reach the target of reducing gas consumption by 15%. The emergency tool is activated on the basis of Article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. We have two goals – explained von der Leyen – The first is that every member state reduces gas consumption. And the second is to provide a safety net for all Member States. One thing must be clear: whoever asks for solidarity – stressed Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton – must prove that they have taken all the necessary measures to reduce demand for Russian gas. All EU countries will feel the consequences of a supply cut by Russia because the impact on the domestic market falls.
For various reasons, the regulation is already causing a stir among the Member States (starting with Italy, Spain and Portugal), but also among business associations. Forced reductions in production would have devastating economic effects and often irreversible impacts on businesses. It should only be seen as a last resort, complains Business Europe, the association of European industrialists. The Commission estimates that in the event of a cold winter, a halt to Russian gas supplies would hurt EU GDP by 0.9-1.5% if nothing is done. The ambassadors to the EU started the discussion yesterday. Tomorrow they will meet again and also on Monday. The trial came to an agreement at the Extraordinary Energy Council on July 26th. Qualified majority voting.
Governments must update national emergency plans by the end of September. Families and essential social services like hospitals and schools are exempt from gas rationing, but Brussels is calling for a reduction in heating and cooling in homes and public buildings. It is also urged to extend the life of nuclear and coal-fired power plants whenever possible. Guidance is given on how to prioritize vulnerable customers, taking into account social and economic criteria (cross-border supply chains, damage to assets, strategic industries, value creation, employees). Governments are encouraged to launch auction or tendering processes to incentivize energy savings by industry or to offer support in line with the amendment to the Temporary State Aid Crisis Framework.