At the start of the summer, while the war in Ukraine was dragging on and Russia had already drastically reduced its gas deliveries, the Europeans feared above all that they would run out of this hydrocarbon for the coming winter. Since then, the Kremlin has closed the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline and continues to ration its European customers.
However, Friday, September 9, the energy ministers of the Twenty-Seven, who met in Brussels, were not alarmed. With rare exceptions, they believe they have done what is necessary to ensure their fellow citizens relative energy security.
Admittedly, Slovakia and the Czech Republic remain dependent on Russian gas. Of course, German industry has not yet completely freed itself from it. But the vast majority of Europeans today can live without Russian gas: before the war, it represented 10% of their energy consumption; today the figure is down to 2.5%. The increase in gas stocks – reserves are filled on average at 83% of their capacity within the European Union (EU) –, the drop in demand, the improvement of interconnections between European countries and the use of other suppliers – United States, Algeria, Norway, Qatar… – enabled them, in record time, to throw off the Muscovite yoke.
But by using all their weight to prevent gas supply disruptions, the Twenty-Seven have contributed to its increase in Europe. Especially since the Kremlin knew ” manipulate “ the markets, as Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Commission, repeats.
Control inflation
In the aftermath, electricity prices soared. In fact, the single electricity market provides, in order to ensure supply for all, that its price is determined by the cost of the most expensive power station – generally a gas-fired power station – which will be called upon to meet Requirement. The drought this summer, which reduced hydroelectric production, and the difficulties of several nuclear power plants in France did not help.
In this context, it is no longer the gas supply that worries the Twenty-Seven but the surge in energy prices, which threatens the competitiveness of their companies and stirs up social tensions. “We managed the supply side”but the problem today, “these are the high prices”judge Tinne Van der Straeten, the Belgian minister.
On Friday, the EU27 therefore asked the Commission to make legislative proposals to them as soon as possible – it will be Tuesday 13 September – which will make it possible to curb inflation. “We will not let our citizens and our businesses down”insisted Josef Sikala, the Czech Minister of Industry, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.
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