ENERGY
EU urged to prepare for Russian gas shut-off
July 21, 2022 - Russia has resumed pumping gas to Europe via the Nord Stream pipeline but the European Commission has urged countries across the bloc to cut their gas use by 15% amid fears supplies could be halted.
In the last 10 years, Europe has grown increasingly dependent on imports to meet its energy requirements, despite the growth of renewables. More than half of EU energy needs are now met by imports with almost a quarter coming from Russia.
However, countries within the EU have different exposure to Russian imports, and southern European members have objected to the EC request, which some feel penalises them to help support Germany.