The EU Commission is calling for 15 percent less gas demand in the coming months: First and foremost, this should be achieved voluntarily, but if an acute shortage is identified, then the Commission should also be able to enforce this goal in an emergency. There are no details yet as to what is threatened if the agreement is not reached – but the fact that the decision is in the hands of Brussels – without the possibility of a veto – has caused sharp criticism in the past few days.
Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Poland and last but not least Hungary have already expressed their rejection with varying degrees of clarity – and in doing so have shown the different circumstances within their own borders. Cyprus, for example, does not understand why one should participate in the plans, as the island is not directly connected to the EU pipeline network anyway – and can therefore not help any other country in an emergency.
Greece was similarly skeptical: Reducing gas consumption does not automatically mean “more gas will come to Germany. That doesn’t mean that there are empty pipelines that can be filled,” Greek Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas quoted Politico as saying.
Iberian front once morest gas saving plans
There is also a particularly high level of resistance on the Iberian Peninsula, and here too, at least behind closed doors, Germany in particular is seen as a problem. The Spanish Minister for Ecological Change, Teresa Ribera, said, according to the Financial Times (“FT”): “Unlike other countries, we Spaniards have not lived beyond our means when it comes to energy.”
Portugal is particularly bothered by the planned procedure: “We cannot accept a disproportionate sacrifice on which we were not even asked for a prior statement,” said Portugal’s Energy Minister Joao Galamba, according to the newspaper.
Spain and Portugal are not dependent on Russian pipeline gas and obtain large parts either as liquid gas or from North Africa. However, the persistent drought in the west meant that energy production from water fell sharply. Instead, the two countries focused on generating electricity from gas to meet demand. “We consume gas out of absolute necessity,” Galamba said recently.
It is still unclear how other countries that are not or hardly dependent on Russian gas think regarding the plans. Without a doubt, France plays the most important role here – of which it was only officially said that they had not yet positioned themselves. In any case, Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said that actions must be “coordinated in advance before we set targets that are the same for everyone”.
Undecided countries might jump on criticism
According to “Politico”, there is now a letter in the room from those countries that do not agree with the specifications from Brussels. In addition to those already mentioned, Italy, Malta and Slovakia might also join – the sheet refers to Spanish information. The aim is to achieve the desired savings goals in a different way.
At the meeting of the energy ministers next week, the green light should have been given for the project – and the specified goals should therefore have come into force on August 1st. But the Commission’s plans need clear approval, they have to be approved by a qualified majority – that is, by 15 member states representing at least 65 percent of the population.
Southern Europe vs Germany
So even if France agrees, Italy might derail the plans. Unlike the previous dispute in the EU, it is now the countries on the fringes of the Union that are not dependent on Russian gas – and are not willing to make compromises for countries like Germany. Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said on Thursday Europe needs to save energy — and that means countries unaffected by Russia’s gas restrictions also need to help other countries. Austria is also in favor of the EU plans: Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) saw an important step and underlined the solidarity.
According to “Politico”, a diplomat has already spoken of “Mission Impossible” in view of the widely differing opinions, even “Tom Cruise might not get the plans through”. A refusal would throw the EU guest emergency plan back on the Commission’s table, so a quick solution would probably be a long way off.
Hungary on its own way
All of this is happening while Hungary is even going its own way. The country declared a state of emergency last week and announced that it would stop supplying gas and other energy sources to other EU countries from August. During a surprise visit to Moscow on Wednesday, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto asked for more gas, saying the Kremlin wanted to examine this request “immediately”. Budapest’s tense relationship with the EU will probably only deteriorate further.
The question is what possible alternatives to the EU plan might look like that might perhaps be agreed upon more quickly. The greatest criticism of the countries is undoubtedly the power of Brussels in an emergency. The goal of saving 45 billion cubic meters of natural gas – the amount that would be missing if Russian gas was completely cut off – might also be achieved without concentrated power in Brussels, according to several sources in the past few days.
Mangott: The gas debate benefits Putin
In any case, the Russia expert Gerhard Mangott said that the current debate was playing into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The possibility of coercion by the EU might drive social and political divisions: “If people can no longer heat their homes as usual or lose their jobs because the industry is no longer getting enough gas, a politically dangerous situation arises,” says Mangott in conversation with the APA.
This might lead to protests in many EU countries and undermine political stability. That is exactly what the Russian President wants. The political scientist therefore recommends being careful with such austerity measures.