Energy-related issues continue to dominate European countries’ agenda

By Anadolu Agency Staff

ANKARA (AA) - Energy-related issues continue to dominate the agenda of European countries, as they could face major challenges in supplying affordable energy to households and industries this winter.

The Netherlands government is introducing a package of measures worth €18 billion ($18 billion) to tackle the energy and cost of living crises, the country’s King Willem-Alexander said on Tuesday, according to NL Times.

“The government is working on a price cap for energy, so that people can continue to pay their energy bills. The tax reduction on fuel and the energy allowance will continue in 2023, and healthcare benefit and the basic student grant will increase in the coming year,” the king said.

“These measures will be financed in part by a temporary extra contribution from oil and gas companies,” he added.

- Belgium

Some 64% of the Belgians fear not being able to pay their energy bills this winter, according to a survey carried out by Le Soir, RTL, and Ipsos.

Belgian daily The Brussels Times on Tuesday reported that 64% of the Belgians are concerned about their ability to pay their energy costs this winter.

The majority of Belgians said they have changed their behavior as a result of rising energy prices and tightened household budgets. Around 80% of respondents said that they use less gas, electricity, water, or heating fuel.

Changes in others aspects of Belgians' daily lives have also been prompted by the country's economic and energy uncertainty. Non-essential activities, such as spending on hobbies, are being put off in favor of paying for energy, according to the Brussels Times.

The Belgian region of Wallonia also started this week turning off the lights on motorway roads at night to save energy.

On Monday late night, Philippe Henry, the region’s minister for energy, mobility and infrastructure, switched off the lights at the E40 motorway road nearby the town of Waremme, in eastern Wallonia, Belgian broadcaster RTL reported.

Lights will also be turned off on Tuesday in central Wallonia and the program will continue Wednesday in the Western area of the region.

- Spain

The Spanish government passed a new package of energy sector reforms on Tuesday ahead of winter.

The headline measure is reducing the sales tax on natural gas, firewood and pellets from 21% to 5% for all consumers.

The government is also embarking on structural reform that specifically aims to support Spain’s struggling industry.

At the same time, the Spanish government introduced a new service to compensate big industrial companies for quickly reducing their energy consumption in moments of peak demand.

Under this model, factories will be given 15 minutes of advanced notice to reduce their consumption when needed. If they do so within three hours, they will receive economic compensation.

While the government has promised that energy will not be cut this winter, leaders are meeting with the main opposition party on Thursday to discuss energy contingency plans.

- UK

A UK government statement said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “using Russia’s grip on European energy supplies to economically blackmail the people of Europe,” as he “struggles to maintain his hold in eastern Ukraine.”

Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss will use her meetings with fellow leaders and CEOs in New York “to catalyse global efforts to stop Russia from profiting off its energy exports while ending energy dependence on authoritarian regimes,” the statement said.

“By turning off the taps of Nord Stream gas pipeline, Putin has consigned millions of people in Europe to a colder and more difficult winter,” Truss said, referring to the closure of the main gas pipeline to Europe.

She said that "too many lives in Ukraine, Europe and around the world are being manipulated by dependence on Russian energy. We need to work together to end this once and for all.”

In her first week in office, the prime minister took "comprehensive action" to help the people of the UK struggling with the cost of living, the statement said, adding that efforts include the creation of a new energy supply task force to increase the global supply and reduce the price of gas.