The European Union is preparing to make a joint purchase of gas following the war

Brussels is preparing to coordinate joint gas purchases on behalf of EU member states to strengthen the continent’s energy security and reduce Russia’s dependence on hydrocarbons, which should be reviewed at the Twenty – Seventh Summit this week.

Inspired by orders for the Govt-19 vaccine conducted by the European Commission, this strategy aims to diversify the EU’s energy supply resources. Eager to isolate Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine, Brussels wants to cut its Russian gas purchases from the continent by two-thirds this year.

At the summit on Thursday and Friday, the twenty-seven leaders are expected to work together to “work together on a joint procurement of gas and hydrogen,” according to draft decisions.

In practice, the Commission says it is ready to set up a working group on general procurement at the EU level.

Led by a “steering committee” comprising state representatives, “a negotiating team led by the commission will talk to suppliers and prepare the ground for future energy partnerships beyond gas,” he added.

Brussels is already in discussions with key gas-producing countries (Norway, the United States, Qatar, Algeria), and its chairman, Ursula van der Leyen, on Monday read out future cooperation with key European energy groups (E.ON, Shell, Vattenfall, Eni, TotalEnergies …). .

The Commission wants each member state to replenish its gas reserves by “at least 80%” by November 1 and then by 90% before each winter, with precise interim objectives set by February. Until October.

The text, released Wednesday, is expected to be approved by states and MEPs with less ambition than the previous version, which will impose a 90% filling rate from November 2022, a figure reaffirmed by the commission’s deputy chairman Maros Chefkovic on Tuesday.

Operators of storage facilities certified by independent organizations are required to “report filling levels to national authorities”, which “must report to the Commission.” “100% reduction in transportation charges” should be encouraged.

The Commission has put forward various options to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices on consumers, including the price ceiling, but this is far from reaching a consensus among member states.