Despite the fall in gas prices, the Commission's joint purchasing platform demonstrated on Tuesday that it met a need. No fewer than 25 international suppliers responded to the first call for tenders launched last week.
Contract negotiations, in which the Commission will not take part, will now start between buyers and sellers. The EU, which decided last year to cut itself off from Russian gas, must diversify its supplies at a forced pace. To avoid a surge in prices linked to possible supply disruptions, Member States are obliged to have 90% full storage by the beginning of next winter.