EU Warned It May Face Its Harshest Energy Winter Since 2022
The European Union is facing the prospect of its harshest winter since 2022 amid growing concerns over energy prices and possible supply disruptions. The warning comes as European officials speak of pressure in the energy market and the vulnerability of supply.
Dan Jorgensen, the EU commissioner for energy and housing, told the Financial Times that the bloc could be heading into its most difficult winter since 2022. He said record-high energy prices and the possibility of supply problems from the United States were among the main reasons for the situation.
He called on Donald Trump, the US president, to ensure, as far as possible, that the free flow of energy resources continues. Jorgensen added that even if current supply trends continue, Europe could still face a difficult winter.
At the same time, Kirill Dmitriev, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his special representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, said the European Union would experience its worst winter since 2022 because it has moved away from Russian energy. He said this situation was the result of decisions made by European bureaucrats.
The Financial Times reported that diesel prices in Europe have climbed to a level close to an all-time high. AFP previously reported, citing European Commission data, that diesel prices in the bloc had reached 2.23 euros per litre.
According to the newspaper, Trump’s recent remarks in support of a ban on US diesel exports have also unsettled the market. Traders have warned that such a move could have serious consequences for Europe, as the United States is one of the region’s key energy suppliers.
Jorgensen said the European Commission is now reviewing various options to reduce energy prices. The move is being pursued in part in response to a recent request from French President Emmanuel Macron to delay stricter rules on methane imports and ease fuel-refining regulations.
After the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, the European Union turned to alternative energy sources, including greater imports from the United States, to reduce its dependence on Russian energy. Since then, Europe’s energy market has repeatedly faced price volatility and fears of supply shortages.
