The Energy Ministers of the European Union (EU) have given the green light today, Monday, to the recommendation of the European Commission to maintain the measures to reduce gas demand, until March 31 of next year, by at least 15 % compared to its average consumption in the period between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2022.
On the other hand, it recommends maintaining other existing measures within the framework of the demand reduction regulation, such as monitoring and reporting the reduction in gas demand by sector and informing the Commission if new measures are adopted. The supply situation has improved thanks to the reduction in gas demand that Member States adopt on the basis of a regulation that made gas savings of 15% mandatory.
This legislation was adopted as an emergency instrument in 2022, in response to the energy crisis caused by Russia’s war of aggression, and in March 2023 it was decided to extend it until the end of March of this year to ensure continued security of supply. . And contain price volatility. However, despite the general improvement in the supply situation, according to the latest Commission reports, the situation on global gas markets remains tense.
“It is still necessary to continue reducing demand”
“Although security of supply in the EU has improved, continued demand reduction remains necessary to ensure sufficient gas storage for next winter,” the Council said in a statement. Today’s political pact, on the reduction of consumption on a voluntary basis – no longer mandatory – will allow Member States to adopt appropriate security of supply measures until the transposition of the directives on energy efficiency and renewable energies in 2025.
With the demand reduction regulation set to expire, Member States agreed to be prepared for any potential disruption to gas supplies and for the European Union’s collective storage to remain at a sufficiently high level throughout the winter. . . This political agreement will then need to be formally adopted by the Council, which is expected to happen at the end of March.
