BRUSSELS—The European Union is preparing for a winter marked by very high energy prices, amid strong market volatility and gas reserves below last year's levels.
European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen,
warned that Europe is heading for a “difficult” winter in terms of prices,
although he ruled out any immediate risk to energy supply for now.
The situation is particularly worrying due to gas storage
levels, considered exceptionally low for this time of year. The European
Commission has urged member states to continue reducing gas and electricity
consumption and to adopt measures to alleviate pressure on reserves and prices.
Jørgensen noted that the European energy situation remains
exposed to geopolitical events and conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine,
factors that keep energy prices high and volatile. He also acknowledged the
vulnerability of European energy infrastructure to potential hybrid attacks,
including cyberattacks and other threats.
The official insisted that current price levels should not
become the new normal and advocated for greater investment in electricity
grids, storage, efficiency, and clean energy interconnections to structurally
reduce Europe's energy dependence.
The warning comes as European governments accelerate their
winter preparations, paying particular attention to the cost of heating for
households and the pressure that energy prices could exert on industry.