EU ministers brace for future without Russian energy – EURACTIV.com

The European Union is considering measures to bolster its energy security as increasingly harsh sanctions against Russia and the escalating violence in Ukraine have raised concerns about the security of supply of Russian energy commodities for the next winter.

Europe imports about 40% of its gas, 35% of its crude oil and upwards of 40% of its coal from Russia. As uncertainty grows around these imports and EU gas reserves are dropping below 30%, the bloc is looking for alternatives to Russian energy and carefully planning for next winter.

“Our present situation is tense,” said the EU’s Energy Commissioner, Kadri Simson, adding that the Commission was continuously briefing the ministers from the EU countries on its forecasts, assessments and contingency plans.

The EU at least has a “robust stock” of oil reserves, Simson explained ahead of a specially convened energy minister meeting in Brussels on 28 February. The European Commission asserts that, even if Russia were to cut all energy supplies to Europe, it would be able to get through this winter.

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