The energy ministers of the European Union will meet this Tuesday to discuss the proposal submitted by the European Commission. reduce consumption by 15% gas An approach that by next spring all Member States will demand specific exceptions according to the circumstances of each EU country, following the reluctance expressed by Spain, Portugal or Greece.
Owners of the energy portfolio will discuss the Community Manager’s proposal last week. Voluntarily reduce your gas consumption by 15% A reduction by the end of March, which Brussels intends to enforce in case of a security of supply warning.
Thus, the Energy Council plans to open the door for a 15% reduction target to be considered. exceptions based on the conditions of some Member States such as the limited connectivity problem of the islands – as in Malta – the problem of synchronization of the electricity grids of the Baltic states – still connected to the Russian infrastructure – or the gas storage capacity of each Member State.
Diplomatic sources explained The aim is not to dilute this 15%, but to pay attention to the specifics of particular Member States. such as geographical limitations and interconnection, but reducing the target in certain countries does not mean that it has to be compensated by others.
Last week, the third vice president and minister for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Theresa RiveraBrussels said it “did not support” the proposal He described the cut in gas consumption as “a disproportionate sacrifice” and argued that “unlike other countries, we Spaniards do not live beyond our means in terms of energy”.
location of spain
a) Yes, Spain to discuss gas connection with Francethat underground gas storage levels are higher than the EU average, or that the storage capacity of liquefied natural gas (LNG) accounts for one-third of the EU’s regasification capacity.
a rejection that not only Spain but also Portugal, Poland, Greece or Hungary have expressed and France has already expressed support for. In this framework, the Community Executive’s proposal for regulation must be supported by a qualified majority in the Council in order to move forward, which means the support of 15 Member States representing at least 65% of the EU population.
In another step, Twenty-Seven will exchange views on the matter. The European Commission, which should declare “European alarm” with the support of a qualified majority, As suggested in last week’s communiqué, the percentage of the Council represented by 15 EU countries, or the initiative of the Council, consisting of at least five Member States, is twenty-seven.
In addition, energy ministers will analyze How to improve the protection of vulnerable consumersmeasures to ensure energy supply and solidarity between Member States, such as homes, health, education or security centres.
Upon Greece’s proposal, the owners of the Energy portfolio will be interested in setting gas price limits in the wholesale electricity market and reforming the electricity market.
Ukraine is ready at the meeting
Moreover, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko will attend the meeting personally to consider how energy security can be strengthened in the electricity and gas markets in the country.
Last week, the Community Executive asked European Union countries to voluntarily reduce their gas consumption by 15% between August 1st of this year and March 31st of this year in order to achieve a reduction of 45,000 million cubic meters of gas to ensure supply.
MoreoverBrussels wants to be able to impose a mandatory warning for security of supply and trying to avoid Russian “blackmail” on gas, something that would require the Council’s qualified majority support in the event of shortages or exceptionally high demand.