Friday 17 October 2014
EU governments should be prepared to intervene if Russia decides to cut its gas deliveries this winter.
That’s the advice from the EU Commission as it unveiled the results of “stress tests” conducted across the 28 member states and neighbouring countries to see the possible impact of Russian gas supply disruptions.
It comes as the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute continues and puts supplies to the EU at risk.
Different scenarios were analysed and in the worst-case, in which Russian gas supplies would be stopped entirely for six months, Bulgaria, Romania, Finland and Baltic countries such as Estonia and Latvia would face severe shortages of at least 40%.
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Although the Commission doesn’t anticipate such a dramatic cut, it is urging the EU nations to be prepared. Another scenario would see a disruption of the Ukraine transit route.
Günther H. Oettinger, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Energy said: "This report shows that we are not waiting but do everything we can do to be prepared. For the very first time, we have a complete picture of the risks and possible solutions.
“If we work together, show solidarity and implement the recommendations of this report, no household in the EU has to be left out in the cold this winter.”
The EU currently imports 53% of the energy it consumes.