Europe’s fears of a long winter with scarce energy supplies due to Russia’s war in Ukraine are likely to dominate an annual speech by EU boss Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.
The State of the European Union address to the European Parliament is set to focus on how its European Commission can mitigate the looming crisis, which is being exacerbated by rising inflation.
Among those listening to the speech is Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, wife of President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is invited as von der Leyen’s guest of honour.
“The courage of the Ukrainian people touched and inspired the world. Europe will be with you every step of the way,” von der Leyen tweeted alongside photos of her and Zelenska in Strasbourg.
Energy measures discussed ahead of von der Leyen’s speech were a price cap on imported Russian gas, emergency compensation for consumers, a levy on non-gas power generators and an appeal to European households and businesses to reduce electricity consumption.
Some of the responses – notably the idea of ??capping gas prices – have been stalled by differences between EU member states, which will likely result in a less ambitious package than von der Leyen had envisaged.
EU countries are also wary of giving the Commission too much power over their national energy policies, already caught up in a bloc-wide push toward renewable energy as part of a carbon-neutral future.
European politicians accuse Moscow of blackmailing the EU over energy as Russia seeks to thwart Western sanctions that pose long-term risks to its economy.
In the short term, however, Europe is feeling the pinch when it comes to breaking free from a long-standing dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
Russian gas imports now account for around nine percent of total gas imports, up from around 40 percent before the Ukraine invasion and subsequent sanctions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said a week ago it was “impossible” to isolate Moscow and vowed to cut gas and oil supplies to countries that impose a price cap.
Russian gas giant Gazprom has shut down the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which supplies Germany, Europe’s export powerhouse.
Germany is “heading for a winter of recession,” said the Ifo Institute, a think tank, this week.
EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told MEPs on Tuesday: “There is no magic wand to bring prices back to pre-war levels. But with a targeted emergency package, we can alleviate price pressure and help citizens look ahead.”
– Russian ‘blackmail’ –
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin – whose country is joining NATO over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – said Putin was trying to “blackmail” Europe.
She called on EU partners to stand against Moscow and stand together, including by imposing further sanctions.
She added: “Winter will be difficult. We see that high energy prices are already creating political divisions. Inflation will test many European societies, but we really have no choice but to remain united.”
Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell told MEPs that European consumers “will have to adjust their heating habits” in the coming months.
“If that’s the price we have to pay to achieve and achieve our energy independence, then we’re doing it, we’re on our way there,” he said.
To make up for reduced gas stocks over the winter, the EU has built up gas stocks and already has 82 percent full tanks, beating a target originally set for October.
But in a sign of lingering unease, the Czech Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency, announced on Tuesday that it would call an extraordinary meeting of the bloc’s energy ministers for September 30.
That meeting could also sign off on the proposals made by von der Leyen in her speech on Wednesday, some of which should be negotiated further later this month.
