European Union Agrees to Limit Gas Use This Winter to Avoid Shortages

搜索

复制

European Union governments agreed Tuesday to ration¹ natural gas this winter.

The move is meant to prevent severe shortages in the future. The agreement came after less than one week of talks.

EU officials hope rationing² gas in the winter will protect Europe against further supply cuts by Russia as it continues its invasion of Ukraine.

EU energy officials approved a draft European law meant to lower demand for gas by 15 percent from August through March. The new law includes voluntary national measures to reduce gas use. But if the voluntary measures do not ease supplies enough, there will be required measures for the 27-country group.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement that "the EU has taken a decisive step to face down the threat of a full gas disruption by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin."

On Monday, Russian energy company Gazprom said it would limit supplies to the EU through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline³ to 20 percent of the normal amount. There are fears the Russian president will continue to use the gas trade against the EU for its opposition⁴ to the war in Ukraine.

"The winter is coming and we don't know how cold it will be," said Czech Industry Minister Jozef Sikela, whose policy responsibilities include energy. He said he believes Russia will continue to use gas to try to influence Europe.

The EU reached the agreement in less than one week. It is based on a proposal from the European Commission, the EU's executive arm. The commission said the rationing would permit the group to get through the winter if Russia stops all gas supplies.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Western countries reacted with economic sanctions. Since then, 12 EU countries have faced stops to, or reductions in, Russian gas supplies.

The EU has agreed to ban oil and coal from Russia starting later this year. But it has not sanctioned Russian natural gas. That is because Germany, Italy and several other member states depend on Russia's supply.

Problems between Russia and the EU are fueling inflation, which is already at record high levels in Europe and may start a recession there.

The energy supply shortage is also testing European cooperation over policy. The EU has gained power over things like monetary⁵, trade, and farm policies. But individual countries make their own decisions on energy.

For example, the energy ministers removed a requirement in the draft law that would have given the European Commission more power. The commission had wanted the power to decide on any voluntary or required action. Instead, officials made sure any decision on required steps will be in the hands of national governments.

Words in This Story

ration — v. to control the amount of a product that people can have when there is not enough of it

draft –n. a version of a document that is made in preparation for the final version

decisive — adj. able to make choices quickly and confidently

sanction — n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country

1 ration   

n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应

参考例句：

• The country cut the bread ration last year.那个国家去年削减面包配给量。
• We have to ration the water.我们必须限量用水。

2 rationing   

n.定量供应

参考例句：

• Wartime austerities included food rationing and shortage of fuel. 战时的艰苦包括食物配给和燃料短缺。
• Food rationing was abolished in that country long ago. 那个国家早就取消了粮食配给制。

3 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。