Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) has called for more speed in joint gas purchasing at EU level. “The situation is serious and we really should have no illusions. Russia is using the energy supplies to blackmail us,” Gewessler said Monday in Luxembourg before a meeting with her EU counterparts. The EU’s response can only be a joint response, but the EU commission must become “faster” in joint procurement of gas, the minister said.
Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine at the end of February, the European gas supply from Russia has been considered threatened. Moscow has already severely restricted or halted deliveries to Austria, Germany and other EU countries.
Gewessler also relies on joint crisis management
“We will only overcome this crisis together (…) – if we don’t outdo each other, if we manage line capacities well, if we act together on the market,” Gewessler emphasized. Conditions in Europe are “very different”. Some EU countries would find it difficult to give up Russian oil, others – such as Austria – would find it difficult to give up Russian natural gas. Austria has “far too much gas coming in through long-term supply contracts”, and it also depends on other countries for liquefied gas (LNG). Therefore, Gewessler said, the EU’s joint gas purchase is “a priority for us”.
“If supplies from Russia were to be completely stopped, we would be in an exceptionally difficult situation across Europe,” the energy minister warned. In Austria and the neighboring countries, that would mean a drop in production, social and economic unrest – that would require the right support on the social side or for the companies.
Mutual Aid Letter of Intent
Austria on Monday signed a letter of intent with Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to provide mutual assistance in an energy crisis, a spokesman for the energy minister confirmed. It is a point of reference for regional measures to be deployed in a crisis.
Expansion of renewable energy sources
The climate minister also calls for more speed in expanding renewables and energy efficiency. The Energy Council will decide on a joint position on the revision of the two directives on Monday. For Gewessler, these are “hugely important building blocks for mastering the phasing out of Russian gas”.
Source: Krone
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