• In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the escalation of the conflict, the European Commission has presented the REPowerEU action plan to achieve energy independence from the Kremlin well before 2030.
• The plan rests on two pillars and envisages, in the long term, diversifying gas supplies, increasing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and boosting the production and import of biomethane and renewable hydrogen.
• In the short term, it requires all Member States to fill gas storage to at least 90% by 1 October each year. By the end of 2022, Europe should reduce its gas imports from Moscow by up to two thirds.

The European Union can break free from oil, gas and coal imports from Russia well before 2030. To achieve this, it is pinning everything on the REPowerEU plan announced on 8 March by the European Commission. The executive thus promises to reduce gas imports from Russia by up to two thirds by the end of this year and, in the long term, to increase the resilience of the entire energy system.

European Commission ✓ @EU_Commission

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Putin's war demonstrates the urgency of accelerating our clean energy transition.

Today we outline REPowerEU - our plan to increase Europe's energy independence:

⚡ Reduced demand for Russian fossil fuels.

⚡ Emergency measures to tackle energy prices in Europe.

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What the REPowerEU plan entails

The REPowerEU plan rests on two pillars. The first envisages diversifying gas supplies, on the one hand by increasing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipelines from non-Russian suppliers, and on the other by boosting the production and imports of biomethane and renewable hydrogen. The second pillar entails reducing the use of fossil fuels in homes, buildings and industries — and more broadly across the entire energy system — even more rapidly, by driving energy efficiency, production from renewable sources, electrification of the system and by addressing infrastructure bottlenecks.

European Commission ✓ @EU_Commission

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We simply cannot rely on a supplier who explicitly threatens us.

We will end our overdependence on Russian gas by diversifying gas supplies and reducing faster the use of fossil fuels in our homes, buildings, industry, and power systems.

#EUGreenDeal

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Full adoption of the Fit for 55 climate package already envisages reducing annual gas consumption by 30 per cent by 2030, equivalent to 100 billion cubic metres. With the measures contained in the REPowerEU plan, it would be possible to gradually avoid the consumption of at least 155 billion cubic metres, equivalent to the volume imported from Russia throughout 2021.

To ensure greater stability in supplies, by next April the executive will present a legislative proposal requiring all Member States to fill gas storage to at least 90 per cent by 1 October each year. The proposal, the Commission warns in a note, will entail monitoring filling levels as well as the creation of solidarity agreements between Member States.

Measures to contain prices and support for consumers and businesses

To contain the surge in energy prices, the EU is examining emergency measures such as temporary caps. Drawing on reports from various authorities, including the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (Acer), it is analysing the benefits and drawbacks of alternative pricing mechanisms to keep electricity affordable, without disrupting market supply mechanisms and further investment in the energy transition.

European Commission ✓ @EU_Commission

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We will also help citizens and businesses to face the impact of high energy prices in recent months.

EU countries will have the possibility to regulate prices and redistribute revenue from high energy sector profits and emissions trading to consumers.

#EUGreenDeal

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With regard to the emissions trading system, the Emission Trading Scheme, the executive will consult Member States on their individual needs to assess the development of a new temporary framework so as to provide aid to businesses affected by the crisis.

Guaranteeing greater security of supply

"We simply cannot rely on a supplier that explicitly threatens us," explains European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with utter candour. "We need to act now to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices, diversify gas supply ahead of next winter and accelerate the transition to clean energy. The faster we switch to renewables and hydrogen, combined with greater energy efficiency, the faster we will be truly independent and masters of our energy system." By the end of the week, the Commission President will meet European leaders in Versailles to discuss the measures and implement them swiftly together with the task force.

The REPowerEU plan thus adds to the Energy Prices Toolbox put forward last October by the Commission to mitigate the impact of the price surge on vulnerable consumers. The 25 countries that have so far aligned with these guidelines have reduced bills for more than 70 million household customers and for several million micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The further measures proposed give the possibility of regulating prices in exceptional circumstances and of deciding how Member States can redistribute to consumers the revenues derived from the high profits of the energy sector and from emissions trading.

The new geopolitics of energy is accelerating the energy transition

Indeed, the new geopolitics of energy and the reality of the market require a drastic acceleration of the transition towards a cleaner system. The European Union imports 90 per cent of the gas it consumes, half of which comes from Russia. Also from Russia comes 45 per cent of coal imports and 25 per cent of oil. "Putin's war in Ukraine demonstrates the urgency of accelerating the transition to clean energy," stresses Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans. Renewables are a source of energy that is "cheap, clean and potentially endless" and "instead of financing fossil industries elsewhere, they create jobs here."

"For the remaining weeks of this winter Europe has a sufficient gas supply, but we need to fill our reserves urgently for next year," reassures Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, who adds: "We have also outlined price regulation, state aid and fiscal measures to protect European households and businesses from the impact of exceptionally high prices."

At present, the Commission continues to monitor gas market developments to avert possible distortions of competition by operators, in particular Gazprom. In the meantime, dialogue with neighbours and partners will continue, and work will press on to ensure an emergency connection of Ukrainian and Moldovan electricity networks to the European continental grid.