European Union member states must draw up plans to endure a 60-day gas supply disruption in cold weather conditions, according to a directive proposed by the European Commission on Thursday to strengthen the bloc's energy security. The directive would also lower the threshold for the commission to declare an EU-wide gas emergency and give it greater authority to co-ordinate a response in such instances, including representing the bloc in dealings with outside countries. The directive was unveiled amid rising fears that another dispute between Russia and Ukraine over gas payments could boil over into a replay of the January crisis that left thousands across Europe without fuel in the height of winter. The EU relies on Russia for about a quarter of its gas supplies, some 80 per cent of which flow through Ukraine.
The directive would also lower the threshold for the commission to declare an EU-wide gas emergency and give it greater authority to co-ordinate a response in such instances, including representing the bloc in dealings with outside countries.
The directive was unveiled amid rising fears that another dispute between Russia and Ukraine over gas payments could boil over into a replay of the January crisis that left thousands across Europe without fuel in the height of winter.
The EU relies on Russia for about a quarter of its gas supplies, some 80 per cent of which flow through Ukraine.
