Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, underscored the scale of Europe’s gas challenge as she spoke this Monday about the continent’s energy security. The aim remains to secure 30,000 million cubic meters of gas for 2023 and to ensure that the measures already in place to weather this winter can be sustained and intensified in the year ahead. The message was clear: resilience is built through preparedness, not just reaction, and the next steps must come quickly to reduce exposure to market volatility and supply shocks.
During a joint press conference with Fatih Birol, the Director General of the International Energy Agency, the Conservative leader highlighted the progress made in boosting European gas reserves and trimming energy costs this year. She emphasized that after a period of tightening markets and strategic stockpiling, Europe now needs forward-looking policies and practical actions to prevent energy insecurity in the upcoming winter, once the current disruption winds down and normal operations resume.
Von der Leyen outlined a multi-pronged strategy tailored to bolster energy independence and smooth the transition to cleaner energy. The plan centers on expanding international cooperation for gas procurement, accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, and driving down overall demand through efficiency gains. She noted that a cohesive approach across borders and sectors would maximize leverage in a volatile global energy market while supporting industrial competitiveness and household affordability.
In line with the IEA projections, she reaffirmed that despite the measures already taken, Europe may still require around 30 billion cubic meters of gas next year. This figure represents roughly seven percent of the bloc’s annual consumption, underscoring the scale of the challenge even with robust policy support and continued diversification of supply routes and suppliers. The calculation takes into account potential weather extremes, economic activity, and the evolving LNG landscape, as well as Europe’s ongoing commitments in response to security concerns in neighboring regions.
The actions outlined aim to bridge this anticipated gap with a combination of increased liquefied natural gas deliveries, sharpened energy efficiency programs, and a swifter rollout of renewable energy projects across the continent. She stressed that success will hinge on aggressive implementation, not mere intention, and that every euro invested will be judged against its ability to deliver tangible reductions in gas dependency and electricity prices for consumers and businesses alike.
Birol’s analysis points to a needed scale of investment, with figures reflecting the costs involved in stabilizing market balance while accelerating transition. The European authorities anticipate a phased but decisive expenditure that would be recovered through long-term energy savings and reduced exposure to price spikes. The forecast suggests that a two-year window could be sufficient for Europe to regain a more secure energy footing as efficiency gains accrue and renewables reach a higher capacity factor, provided policy momentum remains strong and investment flows stay open.
European sources explain that Brussels has built its forecast on the current gas demand trajectory, while remaining adaptable to several plausible scenarios. The assessment considers potential harsher weather, rising industrial demand, a tighter LNG market, and Europe’s ongoing energy aid commitments to Ukraine and Moldova in the context of regional disruptions. The approach reflects a prudent balance between immediate relief measures and long-term structural reforms aimed at enhancing resilience across the energy system.
Using these assumptions, the Union’s analysts project a need for about 60,000 million cubic meters of gas. The objective remains to halve this requirement through the combined effect of diversification, efficiency improvements, and accelerated renewable deployment. While the current plan provides a clear roadmap, officials acknowledge that additional initiatives will be necessary to secure comprehensive energy security for 2023 and beyond, ensuring a stable supply while steering the economy toward cleaner sources of power and lower emissions.