EU leaders, meeting at a summit in Brussels, pledged on Friday to intensify their efforts to reduce their energy dependence on Moscow, which has started to reduce its gas deliveries, raising fears of a “difficult winter”. “We have reviewed all national contingency plans to ensure everyone is prepared for further disruption and we are working on a contingency plan to reduce energy demand with industry and the 27 Member States,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a meeting of EU heads of state and government largely devoted to the energy crisis.
A European emergency plan presented in July
The head of the European executive specified that she would present this plan “in July”. The risk of a gas shortage next winter has become clearer since the Russian energy company Gazprom drastically reduced its deliveries. This is especially true for Germany, which is highly dependent on Russian supplies. “We are going to face very turbulent times and this winter will probably be very difficult”, admitted the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, referring to the war in Ukraine and the energy prices used as a weapon by Russia.
“It is also an economic war against Europe and the impact could be felt very strongly…