Reckrodgas storage plant near Eiterfeld, central Germany (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
European
Union governments agreed last Tuesday to ration natural gas this winter to
prevent severe shortages in the future. The agreement came after one week of
talks.
The EU agreement
is based on a proposal from the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm.
The new law will not give the European Commission more power. All decisions on required steps will be in the hands of national governments.
EU officials
hope rationing gas in the winter will protect Europe against supply cuts by
Russia as it continues its invasion of Ukraine.
The new EU law
will lower demand for gas by 15 percent from August through March.
Russian
energy company Gazprom will limit supplies to the EU through the Nord Stream 1
pipeline to 20 percent of the normal amount.
“The winter
is coming and we don’t know how cold it will be,” said Czech Industry Minister
Jozef Sikela. In his opinion, Russia will continue to use gas to try to
influence Europe.
Problems
between Russia and the EU are fueling inflation, which is already at record
high levels in Europe.
From VOA News
