The Commission's emergency plan to ensure the energy adequacy of households and key public services brings upheavals in the daily lives of EU citizens.
The emergency plan, which is expected to be adopted on 18 May to deal with a possible sudden disruption of Russian gas supplies, includes - among other things - a reduction in car use, teleworking to limit travel and even travel restrictions.
The Commission is trying to "shield" its energy sufficiency as the war in Ukraine continues and fears of a total blackout on oil and gas supplies from Russia continue to hover over the Old Continent.
The EU contingency plan for a possible energy blackout
According to El Pais and The News, which publish the EU contingency plan in case of an energy blackout, it is based on the supply chain regulation that has been in place since 2017 and under certain conditions could be extended to oil in addition to gas.
Driven by the first pandemic lockdown
The European Commission's aim is to reduce consumption, both by citizens and states, in order to ensure first and foremost energy sufficiency for households and vital public services, as well as for key manufacturing sectors. It will be recalled that it was on this basis that the decisions on the first lockdown in 2020 due to the pandemic were taken. According to the IEA, the implementation of specific measures can reduce daily oil consumption.
[/P]According to the IEA, the implementation of specific measures can reduce daily oil consumption.
In particular. One day of teleworking is equivalent to 170,000 fewer barrels of oil per day.[BRP]-Carpooling and mild financial support means 470,000 fewer barrels.[BRP]-Reducing speed limits on motorways by at least 10 km/h equals 430,000 barrels less.[BRP]-Weekends without cars in cities equals 380.000 barrels less, while the use of single-unit cars in cities saves 210,000 barrels of oil.
-Restricting air travel for business purposes
-Using electric vehicles and trains instead of planes.
-The emergency plan will include a search for alternative energy sources up to sharing oil and gas among the 27.
The proposed restrictions will essentially be "individual responsibility" measures.
Meanwhile, the EU is expected to take a decision on the Russian oil embargo later this week, but the situation is complicated as Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria disagree, while Austria remains cautious.
Brussels will attempt to ensure that no country gains a competitive advantage
According to the report in the News, Brussels will attempt to ensure that no country gains a competitive advantage over another because it has access to greater quantities of oil and gas. This means that there will be a redistribution mechanism under the responsibility of the Commission. Initially, it is envisaged that it will operate on a voluntary basis and, if necessary, it will be mandatory and there will be clauses to that effect.
What other European countries are doing
Many European countries are already taking steps in this direction. In Germany, the Berlin government has decided to reduce the price of the monthly public transport card to €9 for the next three months to encourage people to put the handbrake on their cars and use public transport. In Italy, "Operation Thermostat" is being implemented. So according to the measures adopted for public buildings, giving similar recommendations for private buildings, in winter the temperature cannot be regulated above 19 degrees Celsius, with a maximum deviation of two degrees. As for the summer, thermostats cannot fall below 27 degrees, with a similar deviation.
France, the Netherlands, Austria and Portugal are moving in a similar direction. Paris, in fact, in March, had asked citizens to join the effort by lowering thermostats in homes by one degree - "the equivalent of 12-15 fewer methane tankers in French ports," the CEO of energy group Engie said at the time.
Source: iefimerida.gr
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