Between August 2022 and January 2024, Europe’s gas demand fell by 18 percent as the EU’s Twenty-Seven implemented reduction measures in response to the energy crisis sparked by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Although the situation has stabilized and pressure has eased somewhat, energy ministers across the EU agree that consumption should keep declining in a coordinated way, though on a voluntary rather than a mandatory basis as before.
“The political agreement today demonstrates a continued commitment to staying prepared for any potential supply disruption and to ensuring a secure winter for households and industries,” stated Belgium’s energy minister on behalf of the rotating EU presidency regarding last week’s Brussels recommendation. “We are in a better position than we were previously, yet member states acknowledge that market conditions remain tense and vulnerable to shocks,” she added after the first formal energy ministers’ meeting.
Diminishing the gas demand, with the regulation set to expire on March 31, 2024, the Twenty-Seven have resolved to extend its validity by another year, up to March 31, 2025, this time on a voluntary basis. The move reflects a more stable situation than in earlier years. “Gas storage is at 62 percent, and at this pace, the season’s end storage should land between 45 and 55 percent. That provides a solid base to start the new injection season,” commented the energy commissioner.
The regulation urges member states to pursue reductions of at least 15 percent compared with their average gas consumption for the period from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2022. The Council notes that these measures will support secure supply until energy efficiency and renewables directives are transposed in 2025, at which point deeper structural reductions in demand should be achieved while advancing EU decarbonisation goals.
Russian LNG and market dynamics
The recommendation, which still requires formal adoption, recognizes particular circumstances such as supplier desynchronization, isolated systems, and limited interconnection capacity. It also calls for maintaining existing measures under the demand-reduction framework, including monitoring and reporting reductions by sector and notifying the Commission of any new actions.
Beyond the gas market situation and demand reduction, the Twenty-Seven also addressed Lithuania’s request to curb imports of liquefied natural gas. LNG imports to the EU have remained steady at roughly 18 billion cubic meters. “I have reiterated that the EU cannot allow Russia to compensate for volumes cut by unilateral pipeline export decisions through LNG channels,” the energy commissioner said. She emphasized the bloc’s aim to close the year with reduced Russian gas, while Lithuania’s deputy prime minister called for greater coordination and a united EU stance.