The imperative of EU diversification from fossil fuels was focused on by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Ms. von der Leyen also referred to Greece, talking about the new LNG terminals. At the same time, she noted that "Russia is instrumentalizing its energy reserves, but it operates in the same way when it comes to food reserves."
In particular, she stressed that "the climate crisis cannot wait. But now the geopolitical reasons are also obvious. We need to move away from fossil fuels."
"The same applies to the diversification of our gas supply, another pillar of REPowerEU. As we speak, Europe is concluding new agreements with reliable suppliers around the world. In March I agreed with President Biden to significantly increase LNG deliveries from the US to Europe. More LNG and gas by pipeline will also come from the Middle East and North Africa. New LNG terminals in Greece, Cyprus and Poland, as well as new interconnections, will soon come on stream," the Commission President added. She also underlined the importance of hydrogen.
"We are witnessing that Russia is instrumentalising its energy reserves. And this has a global impact. Unfortunately, we see the same pattern occurring in food security."
As Mrs. According to von der Leyen, grain fields in Ukraine have been burned and "in Russian-occupied Ukraine the Kremlin's army is confiscating grain stocks and machinery."
"Today, Russian artillery is bombing grain depots across Ukraine, deliberately. Russian warships in the Black Sea are blockading Ukrainian ships full of wheat and sunflower seeds. The consequences of these shameful acts are there for all to see. World wheat prices are skyrocketing. And it is the fragile countries and vulnerable populations that suffer the most."
As she pointed out, Russia is stockpiling its own food exports as a form of blackmail, blocking supplies to raise global prices or trading wheat in exchange for political support. "This is called using hunger and grain to exercise power," he added."
The Commission president pointed to the need to mobilize greater cooperation and support at the European and global level. "Global cooperation is the antidote to Russia's blackmail," she underlined.
Finally, Ms von der Leyen said she was working with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to organise an event on food security and solutions in Europe and the region.
Source: Proto Thema
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