Gas emergency plan presented: EU should save 15 percent on gas

The EU Commission considers a gas supply stop by Russia to be “realistic”. However, the EU could safely get through the winter if all member countries save 15 percent on gas. If necessary, the Commission wants to force savings.

In the event of a gas emergency, the EU Commission has proposed a 15 percent reduction in gas consumption in the EU member states. This should initially be based on a voluntary basis, but could also become mandatory. In the event of an emergency, the Commission is seeking special powers in order to be able to enforce even more drastic measures in Europe.

According to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the plan envisages a two-stage process: First, between August 1st and March 31st, the member states are to achieve savings in gas consumption from the public sector, business and consumers. For example, heaters could be throttled and the runtimes of nuclear power plants could be extended.

New legal basis would be necessary for “emergency instrument”

If this is not enough, the Commission wants to take action with a new “emergency instrument” and call out an “EU alarm”. For this, however, the member states would have to agree to a new legal basis. The energy ministers of the EU countries meet on Tuesday for a special meeting in Brussels.

Von der Leyen considers a complete halt to the supply of gas from Russia to the European Union to be likely. “We must prepare for a possible total disruption of Russian gas supplies.” This is a likely scenario.

Admonition to act together

It has been seen in the past that Russia is trying to put pressure on the EU by reducing gas supplies. According to von der Leyen, a complete stop in deliveries would hit all EU countries hard. At the same time, she stressed that the EU could overcome the difficulties if it acted as one.

She emphasized that solidarity is necessary. She hopes that the EU member states are ready to help each other out.