Russian gas: the delicate quest for a common position within the European Union

The Russian giant Gazprom stopped delivering gas to Bulgaria and Poland on April 27, 2022 because these two countries refuse to pay in rubles.

AP - BTA Georgy Genchev

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The energy ministers of the European Union are holding an emergency meeting on Monday 2 May.

Their objective: to agree on a common position in the face of Russia's demand to be paid in rubles for its gas deliveries, under penalty of interrupting them.

Ahead of a possible embargo on Russian oil, the Europeans are also looking to secure their gas supply.

Advertisement

Read more

There is urgency because Moscow has hardened its tone on gas.

Last week, Russian giant

and Poland after both countries

.

If Sofia and Warsaw are able to compensate for the cessation of Gazprom deliveries, this is not the case for all the member countries of the European Union, and in particular Germany, which is very dependent on Russian hydrocarbons.

The threat of a shortage looms and could result in plunging Europe into recession.

The Russian supply now represents nearly 45% of natural gas imports into Europe.

The EU's goal is to cut Russian gas supplies by two-thirds by the end of the year.

For this, it foresees an increase in imports of liquefied natural gas, particularly from the United States.

But this question could open breaches in the united front that the Europeans display against Russia.

Differences remain on the way forward.

Hungary does not want to boycott Russian energy while the EU seeks common opposition.

► To read also: Gazprom stops delivering its gas to Poland and Bulgaria

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Russia

• European Union

• Ukraine

• Energies