The party and faction leader of the European People’s Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, has called for a special EU summit over Russia’s gas supply restrictions. During the meeting, the heads of state and government should prepare Europe-wide emergency aid in the autumn and winter, according to the CSU politician. The summit must adopt “binding measures for fair gas distribution”.
The EU needs a “binding mechanism so that Europe’s gas storage facilities are jointly managed,” Weber told Berlin’s “Tagesspiegel am Sonntag”. The gas entering Europe must be distributed fairly, including liquefied gas. In addition, a gas purchasing group is needed: “Prices for consumers would go down if the EU bought together” and not every country for itself.
Alert Level – Fear of Total Failure
On June 23, German Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) declared the second crisis level in the gas emergency plan, the so-called alarm level. Russian state energy company Gazprom has already cut gas supplies to Germany through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline by 60 percent. In mid-July, Gazprom plans to carry out maintenance on the pipeline for ten days. What happens next is open.
The German Federal Network Agency fears a total failure of Russia’s gas supply. The question is whether the upcoming regular maintenance of Nord Stream 1 will “become a longer political interview,” network agency boss Klaus Müller said on Saturday.
Source: Krone
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.
