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LEAK: EU drafts plan to reduce gas consumption ahead of uncertain winter
(EurActiv, 14 Jul 2022) The European Commission is drafting plans to help EU countries reduce fossil gas demand and, if necessary, curtail consumption in the face of “a likely deterioration of gas supply outlook” this winter, according to leaked policy proposals seen by EURACTIV.
Over the past few months, gas supplies from Russia have declined in a “deliberate attempt to use energy as a political weapon”, driving energy prices higher and raising concerns about whether Europe will have enough supply to get through the next winter.
Already, supply to the Baltic States, Poland, Bulgaria and Finland has stopped. Supply to Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy has been reduced and flows through Nord Stream 1, the largest import route to the EU, have been cut by 60%.
“There is no reason to believe this pattern will change. Rather, a number of signals, including the latest decision to reduce further supply to Italy, point to a likely deterioration of gas supply outlook,” the Commission says in a new policy document, seen by EURACTIV.
The policy document, due to be published on Wednesday (20 July), has a self-explanatory title: “Save gas for a safe winter”.
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EurActiv, 14 Jul 2022: LEAK: EU drafts plan to reduce gas consumption ahead of uncertain winter
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