The European Commission has revealed plans to reduce European Union member states’ dependency on Russian energy sources amid the Ukraine war, proposing to cut gas imports from Russia by two-thirds or 66% this year.
The EU’s executive arm said it could erase a huge share of its dependency on Russia by tapping new gas supplies, ramping up reserves for next winter and accelerating efforts to be more energy efficient.
"We are too dependent on Russian fossils fuels. We must ensure a reliable, secure and affordable supply of energy to European consumers. With the #EUGreenDeal, we know how to get there. But we need to move faster. This is what RePowerEU is about. RePowerEU will diversify our gas supplies, speed up the renewable roll-out, improve energy efficiency and replace gas in heating and power. It can reduce our demand for Russian gas by 2/3 before the end of the year. We will also help consumers and businesses face increased energy prices and prepare for next winter:
• More guidance on price regulation for consumers
• Potential new State Aid Temporary Framework for businesses
• Upcoming proposal on minimum gas storage to secure supply", - the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen tweeted.
The proposal, which is not binding, calls for 90% of gas storage capacity to be filled by September 30, up from about 30% now.
