In twelve EU member states, Russia supplies only partial or no gas at all. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen therefore wants energy solidarity: everyone should save. The proposal is not well received in Portugal and Spain.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is urging countries that are less dependent on Russian gas supplies to also participate in savings efforts. “Even member states that hardly purchase Russian gas cannot escape the consequences of a possible delivery stop in our internal market,” she said before a special meeting of energy ministers this Tuesday.

The economies in the EU are closely intertwined. A gas crisis would affect every Member State in one form or another. “It is therefore important that all member states reduce demand, that everyone saves more and shares it with those members who are more affected,” von der Leyen added. Energy solidarity is a basic principle of the European treaties.

Shortly before, Spain and Portugal, among others, had criticized a proposal by the EU Commission for a gas emergency plan. The Portuguese government cannot accept the proposal at all because it is “unsustainable,” said State Secretary for Environment and Energy João Galamba in an interview with the newspaper “Público”. “We consume gas out of absolute necessity,” he assured. The Spanish Minister for Ecological Change, Teresa Ribera, had previously complained: “We can’t make sacrifices that we haven’t been asked about.” She emphasized: “Unlike other countries, we Spaniards have not lived beyond our means when it comes to energy consumption.”

Specifically, the EU Commission’s plan provides that all EU states voluntarily make all necessary efforts to reduce their gas consumption by at least 15 percent between August 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. The comparative value would be the average consumption in the same period of the past five years. In the event of a real gas emergency, it should also be possible to order a reduction in consumption.

According to the EU Commission, inadequate preparation for a Russian delivery freeze could result in a slump in economic output by an average of 0.9 to 1.5 percent. “In the meantime, Russia is only partially delivering gas or not at all in twelve member states,” said von der Leyen. “Therefore, Europe must be prepared for the worst case: a complete stop of gas supplies, sooner or later.” The faster you act, the more you save – and the safer you are.

The Commission’s proposals are the subject of a special meeting of EU energy ministers in Brussels this Tuesday. Von der Leyen expressed confidence that they would find broad approval. “I’m sure energy ministers… are aware of their responsibilities,” she said. It’s about creating a safety net for everyone so that you can make it safely through the next two winters.

(This article was first published on Monday, July 25, 2022.)