European Union: agreement of the 27 to reduce gas consumption by 15%

A station in Barcelona of Enagas allowing to receive LNG (liquefied natural gas), March 29, 2022. © Emilio Morenatti/AP

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2 mins

On the sidelines of the war in Ukraine and while Moscow has just announced a new drastic cut in its gas supplies to Europe, an agreement was reached on Tuesday morning July 26 in Brussels where the energy ministers of the European Union (EU).

The 27 have agreed to reduce their consumption by 15%.

This was the solution advocated by the Commission to deal with the shortage of Russian gas.

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With our correspondent in Brussels,

This reduction will be voluntary, at least initially, but the decision was not taken for granted.

After an outcry last week from some EU states who threatened to oppose the Commission's proposal, intense negotiations led to the compromise on Tuesday. 

The essential is acquired, namely that between August 1 and March 31, gas consumption will have to be reduced by 15% compared to the average of the last five winters.

Household consumption should not be affected.

The measure will concern companies and administrations.

The objective is to approach next winter serenely, but above all to fill the gas reserves for the following winter.

European solidarity

If these voluntary reductions are not sufficient or in the face of an unforeseen crisis, the Commission may propose to activate mandatory reductions.

And to reach this agreement, the three island states, Cyprus, Malta and Ireland, obtain a derogation, because they are not connected to the gas pipelines of the mainland.

Similarly, Greece, Spain and Portugal are partially exempted, because

prevents the use of hydroelectricity since the low water level of the dam lakes is at its lowest.

Despite these exemptions, the principle of full European solidarity is engraved in stone to allow, for example, the re-export of the gas saved.

This decision of the 27 comes as the giant Gazprom announced on Monday July 25

, as of Wednesday, to 33 million m3 daily its deliveries to Europe via the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

Until 2021, Russia accounted for some 40% of EU gas imports.

►Also read: In France, some cities cut public lighting at night to save money

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• European Union

• Energies

• consumption

• Ukraine

• Russia