Mattarella calls on EU to take “a leap forward in political determination” to respond “urgently” to Moscow’s energy challenge
In Italy, the unrestricted suspension of Russian gas shipments to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline has not been unexpected. Since Moscow started the war in Ukraine, the government of Mario Draghi has developed a strategy to reduce its dependence on purchasing this hydrocarbon from Russia. to reduce : in just over six months it has changed from its main gas supplier, covering more than 40% of its needs, to 18% of imports. The goal is to stop purchasing methane from Moscow by the second half of 2024.
A day after hearing of the new service interruption on Nord Stream 1, the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, stressed the importance for Europe to “liberate itself from Russian dependence” on energy sources. In a message sent this Saturday to participants at the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, the head of state pointed out that the European Union is “the only continental player that can act to calm energy prices”. To do this, it must “take a leap forward in political determination, integration and innovation”. The answer to Russia’s gas challenge, “one of today’s critical knots”, must also come “urgently” and “face the problems”.
While the political parties, immersed in the 25 September election campaign, blame each other for the responsibility for Italy’s dependence on gas sold by Moscow, they agree that a European ceiling should be put in place for the price of this hydrocarbon. The war in Ukraine has prompted Italy to increase storage and its reserves are now almost at 82% capacity, close to reaching the 90% target before winter sets in. In any case, it is feared that the country will experience an energy emergency in March if a new regasification plant is not built immediately.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
