Politico: EU Faces Severe Gas Shortage This Winter

Politico, citing data from the U.S. Energy Institute, says European Union member states are likely to face a severe gas shortage in the coming winter, a situation that could force the bloc to quickly seek alternatives to replace lost supplies.

According to the report, gas stored in the EU’s underground reserves is now just over 70%, a figure Politico says is the lowest level of pre-winter storage since 2011.

The U.S. outlet added that after Russian gas imports fell following the start of the war in Ukraine, the European Union turned to diversifying import sources, increasing purchases of liquefied natural gas and cutting gas consumption to secure energy supplies.

However, Politico stressed that ahead of the 2026-2027 winter, Europe’s gas storage levels remain below the average of previous years, while rising import demand and concerns over supply disruptions have made the continent’s energy market more vulnerable to price volatility.