Vladimir Putin’s energy war against the European Union (EU) is once again testing the solidarity of the Twenty-Seven as Europe’s response to the war in Ukraine. Despite the re-starting of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, Kremlin restrict the supply gas at any time, with the resulting social and economic impact, European Commission to include in contingency plans a commitment to reduce this fossil fuel consumption by 15% between August and March 2023. It’s a voluntary act that Brussels can make legally binding. The proposal was met with absolute coldness in the capitals. Madrid anyone Lisbon and doubt and skepticism in others. The plan will face its first acid test during an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday. Energy which promises to be heated.
Is 15% savings really necessary? Why apply equally to all when not all Member States have the same dependence on gas? Russia? Why should the European Commission be the one to activate the alert in case of famine and apply a discount in an area of highly national competence? These are questions that will likely come up again as energy ministers first review the plans of Ursula von der Leyen’s team at a 10am meeting on 26 July.
The first ambassadorial debate among the Twenty-Seven took place this Wednesday. It took three hours, and according to diplomatic sources present at the meeting, the southern states –Spain, Portugal, Italy, malt, Cyprus Y Greece– dissatisfied with the plan designed by Brussels. Ambassadors will once again try to reconcile positions at a new preparatory meeting this Friday, but deliberation of the arrangement that needs to be ratified is presumed to be accepted. qualified majority What Brussels hopes to achieve on Tuesday will be very complex.
south facade
“We understand very well that we need to be supportive when a Member State is going through tough times and many are going through bad times, but to be effective in the response, things need to be done well,” he said. Cadena microphones for being the third vice president of the Spanish Government Teresa Ribera and responsible for ecological transformation. And in Spain’s view, the Commission did not do well. Firstly, since there is no discussion with Member States and the unique characteristics of each energy market are ignored. A review rejected by sources from Community ManagerHe underlined that it is precisely at the last minute that countries that may show a lack of interconnection have agreed to include the possibility of benefiting from a partial cancellation and reducing the necessary savings by 5%.
It’s a gesture that doesn’t soften criticism from either Spain or neighboring Portugal. “Portugal completely opposes the proposal of the European Commission, as it does not take into account the differences between countries. This cannot be applied to Portugal,” said the secretary of state for energy this Wednesday, Joao Galamba, which draws the proposal as “disproportionate and unsustainable.” In Athens, too, the Brussels plans were not well received. “The Greek Government, in principle, does not accept the Commission’s proposal to reduce food consumption. natural gas”, the spokesperson warned, Giannis Oikonomou.
Germany calls for solidarity
On the other hand, Germany, which is highly dependent on Russian gas and does not have facilities to regasify liquefied natural gas from other third countries, took the Brussels plans with ease and hope. “European solidarity is more important than ever in these times. In order to act better together in gas crisis situations, we need to work more closely,” said the Minister of Economy. Robert Habeckjust to know the offers.
announced this Thursday Germany, where Russia supplies 30% of the gas it uses to produce electricity or heat houses, will take savings measures., also in public buildings, one of the conditions for a mandatory heating “control” to demand solidarity from their neighbors in the event of a problem: to first show that they have taken measures to reduce their consumption. Berlin, like Brussels, is emphasizing the impact of Moscow’s total gas cut. “If gas supplies are difficult in one or more countries, all Member States will be affected”, predicts Habeck.
And the same Von der Leyen. “There are countries that are more exposed to Russian gas than others and are more vulnerable in case of blackouts. but all Member States will suffer the consequences through the single market”. “It is important that every Member State contributes to energy savings, storage and is willing to stand in solidarity with its neighbours,” he argued on a core concept of the Treaty, adding that it is crucial to confront the economic crisis. Pandemic with around 800,000 million European rescue fund and joint vaccine purchase.