Steven N.With the exception of Hungary’s Péter Szijjártó, the energy ministers of EU Member States unanimously approved the European Commission’s emergency plan to reduce gas consumption by 15%, reports Die Welt.
The emergency plan aims to ease Russia’s dependence on gas and make preparations if the Kremlin decides to stop exporting to the European Union. Sven Giegold, the German State Secretary for Economic Affairs, tweeted that the emegency plan was adopted by a huge majority, with only Hungary opposing it.
The European Commission came up with the plan on July 20, asking the 27 member countries in the EU to reduce their consumption for the eight months between August 2022 and March 2023 compared to their average consumption over the last five years. Compliance will be on a voluntary basis for now, but could become mandatory if the situation becomes dire. [Népszava]
