Members of the European Union have agreed on an emergency plan for gas austerity. The goal of this plan is softening the effect from a potential cessation of supplies of Russian gas, as reported by EU diplomats on Tuesday, 26 July.
The plan provides for EU member states to reduce gas consumption between 1 August 2022 and 31 March 2023 by at least 15% when compared to average consumption observed in the previous five-year period.
Additionally, it is planned to compose a mechanism to activate an EU-wide alert in the event of gas shortage and introduce binding gas austerity goals.
The initial strict proposals from the European Commission were eased by a lot, permitting certain cases of exception and raising the threshold for the introduction of binding gas austerity goals.
«We have to prepare for a full cessation of Russian gas supplies, and this is a very likely scenario,» said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
As previously reported, last week the EC proposed for all EU member states to adopt mandatory gas austerity goals if gas supplies drop to critical levels.