The European Commission demanded on Wednesday that EU countries decrease their natural gas use 15% by next spring in fear of Russia鈥檚 cutting the supply to the bloc.
鈥淩ussia is blackmailing us, Russia is using energy as a weapon,鈥� European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a news conference, presenting the EU executive body鈥檚 winter emergency plan.
According to von der Leyen, there is a 鈥渓ikely scenario of a full cut of gas鈥� so 鈥淓urope needs to be ready.鈥�
The EU Commission鈥檚 proposal 鈥淪ave Gas for a Safe Winter鈥� asks EU member states to reduce their gas demand 15% between Aug. 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.
For the moment, the document only means a legally non-binding recommendation for EU member states to voluntarily reduce their gas consumption, the EU Commission鈥檚 Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans explained.
鈥淏ut if the situation gets worse鈥� the European Commission will be able to ask for mandatory cuts from EU member states if the draft passes, he added.
The plan aims to 鈥渁void a full-blown crisis next winter,鈥� Timmermans asserted.
According to the European Commission, the gas supply in 12 EU member states has already been hit by a partial or total cut as retaliation from Russia for the bloc鈥檚 sanctions.
The EU has slapped six sets of sanctions against Russia since it launched war on Ukraine on Feb. 24.
The packages target, among others, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, ban oil and coal imports, and the export of luxury goods, as well as exclude Russian and Belarusian banks from using the SWIFT international banking system.
By Agnes Szucs
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr