Preparations and actions for a safe winter

26.7.2022

Question for written answer  E-002732/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Eva Kaili (S&D)

On 20 July 2022, the Commission announced a proposal for emergency legislation that sets a voluntary 15 % gas use reduction target for the Member States with the possibility of turning it into a mandatory target if there is a ‘substantial risk of a severe gas shortage’.

For a plan like this to work, it is vital that the Member States demonstrate unity and coordination on energy saving and energy sharing. However, it is essential that we also find a solution to ensure that burden sharing between the Member States is fair, equitable and commensurate with their capabilities.

• 1.What is the common mechanism and methodology to ensure the harmonisation and collective management of energy resources in the EU, and how can we ensure fair and equitable burden sharing between the Member States?
• 2.What is the Commission’s plan and timeline for ensuring energy efficiency through EU grids without depending on third countries for a safe winter, and what are the priority energy projects that we should accelerate in order to achieve this goal?
• 3.Has the Commission conducted a study to determine for how many months each Member States can store energy and how to ensure grids will achieve a safe winter, and has it commissioned an impact assessment for the scenario that Russia halts gas exports to the EU?