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Nord Stream 1 facility in Lubmin (in March 2022)
Photo: HANNIBAL HANSCHKE / REUTERS
How can the EU countries cushion a feared stop to gas imports from Russia?
This question has been discussed ever since Moscow used its energy supplies as a means of leverage in the Ukraine conflict.
A strategy is now emerging.
According to information from the dpa news agency, representatives of EU countries have agreed on an emergency plan to reduce gas consumption.
It is to be officially confirmed this Tuesday at a special meeting of energy ministers in Brussels and reduce the risks that could arise from a complete disruption of Russian gas supplies.
As dpa diplomats confirmed on Tuesday night, the plan, as proposed by the EU Commission, envisages a voluntary reduction in national consumption by 15 percent between August 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.
In addition, the possibility should be created to trigger a Union alarm in the event of far-reaching supply bottlenecks and to set binding savings targets.
Compared to the Commission's first draft, however, there are significantly more possible exceptions and the hurdles for the introduction of binding savings targets have also been increased.
The latter should only be able to be enforced by the Council of Member States and not by the EU Commission.
In concrete terms, this means that a Commission proposal for binding savings targets needs the approval of a group of 15 of the 27 EU countries.
In addition, these must together make up at least 65 percent of the total population of the Union.
Derogations should provide, for example, that countries such as Cyprus, Malta and Ireland should not be obliged to save gas as long as they are not directly connected to the gas network of another member state.
In other countries, efforts to store gas, an impending electricity crisis and the consumption of gas as a raw material, for example for the production of fertilizers, should be able to reduce the mandatory savings.
Habeck with clear words to Moscow
The decision-making process for the revised plan is expected to begin this Tuesday at a special meeting of energy ministers.
This also requires a qualified majority, which according to diplomats should, however, be achieved without any problems.
In addition to Hungary, only three other member states have recently expressed major reservations, it said.
Germany supports the emergency plans as one of the countries that are currently still heavily dependent on Russian gas supplies.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck is expected to attend the special meeting on behalf of the federal government.
The Greens politician accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of a "perfidious game" on Monday evening because of the announced further cuts in gas supplies.
Putin is trying to weaken the great support for Ukraine and to drive a wedge in German society.
In return, he stirs up uncertainty and drives up prices.
There are no technical reasons for the delivery cuts.
jok/dpa