EU presses on with gas storage targets as winter approaches
Thierry Breton, the Commissioner for the Internal Market, noted this Thursday that the European Union is on track to meet its minimum gas reserve targets for the upcoming autumn. The bloc currently stands at about 76.92 percent storage fill across the Twenty-Seven member states, signaling progress toward a common goal.
With storage policies aligned to ensure that each country reaches 80 percent capacity by next November, the EU is advancing toward greater energy security despite ongoing tensions with Russia. The new rules approved by member states shape the Energy Security framework and mark a step forward for the union as it prepares for potential supply shocks in the weeks ahead.
Breton highlighted at a conference organized within the Menéndez Pelayo International University Summer Courses that Spain has already surpassed the 80 percent threshold, with reserves around 82 percent. France is reported to have around 90 percent reserves, Germany about 80 percent, and Italy near 79 percent. These variations reflect the different storage capacities and import profiles of each country as the winter season closes in.
The Internal Market head underscored that the main challenges this winter will revolve around gas and electricity produced from gas, with fuels such as coal, fuel oil, and kerosene playing a secondary role in the broader energy mix. This framing emphasizes the risk that gas supply and price dynamics will dominate the energy security landscape in the coming months.
The EU agreement sets an initial target to keep gas reserves at or above 80 percent of capacity by November, while also establishing thresholds at 90 percent for the following winter seasons. This year the consolidated storage rate across the union stands at about 85 percent of total capacity. The mandatory fill thresholds are scheduled to expire in December 2025, signaling a shift toward longer term resilience planning and market readiness.
Officials acknowledge that the storage situation varies significantly from one member state to another, driven by factors such as domestic capacity, LNG import infrastructure, and seasonal demand. The regulation allows member states to calculate LNG and other alternative fuels in their storage assessments as Spain has requested, ensuring a pragmatic approach to counting reserves while maintaining a clear compliance framework.
In summary, the bloc is advancing a coordinated strategy to strengthen energy security through robust storage targets, flexible accounting for gas alternatives, and a clear plan for winter readiness. The emphasis remains on safeguarding households and critical industries from sudden supply disruptions, while supporting markets through predictable, rule-based policies as Europe navigates a complex energy landscape.