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EU Commission warns of “very difficult winter” over energy prices
Коротко
A European Commission spokesperson, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, said the EU is heading into a very difficult winter because of energy prices, despite G7 measures to stabilise the market. The G7 agreed on 2 October to release up to 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from strategic reserves over four months, a step the Commission welcomed and expects to help EU fuel costs. Russian business outlets reported that experts see the effect as short-lived, with Europe still dependent on US diesel for more than half its imports.
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European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said at a briefing in Brussels that the European Union is heading into a “very difficult winter” in terms of energy prices, Kommersant reported. According to her, despite the G7 decision to take measures to stabilise the energy market, the price situation during the winter will remain difficult. Vedomosti quoted her as saying that the bloc is approaching a very difficult winter from the point of view of enterprises, in a broader context. [ 3 , 4 ]
The G7 decision was announced on 2 October. French President Emmanuel Macron said the group would release up to 100 million barrels of oil and petroleum products from strategic reserves over the next four months to lower fuel prices, above all diesel, according to Vedomosti. The same day, US President Donald Trump said Washington does not plan to introduce a ban on diesel exports, Vedomosti reported. Kommersant said the G7 announced the release of 100 million barrels of petroleum products over four months. [ 3 , 4 ]
The Commission welcomed the move. TASS reported that spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen greeted the decision by EU countries and the Group of Seven to release oil and diesel from strategic reserves for sale. Kommersant reported the Commission representative’s assessment that the release would have a positive effect on fuel costs for EU countries, and that oil prices began to fall after the announcement, citing International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol. [ 2 , 4 ]
Kommersant described the mechanism as quickly adding fuel to circulation from emergency reserves while raising refinery utilisation and keeping free trade in petroleum products between partner countries. In its account, this could ease deficit pressure on the world market and, through it, lower fuel costs in EU countries, but does not remove supply disruptions. [ 4 ]
The effect is limited in time. Kommersant reported that experts at the German Economic Institute call the reserve release only short-term relief, unable to sustainably lower prices at filling stations. It added that the risk is especially sensitive for Europe because of its dependence on US diesel, which accounts for more than half of its imports, while conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have already limited diesel exports from major world regions. [ 4 ]
Kommersant also reported that foreign media believe the G7 took the step under pressure from Donald Trump, who wants to stop fuel price growth in the United States ahead of November elections to Congress. [ 4 ]
Почему это важно
The warning points to continued pressure on European fuel costs through the winter even after an emergency G7 reserve release, and it comes from a region whose diesel supply relies heavily on imports. The release is a four-month measure, so its effect on pump prices is expected to be temporary, leaving the EU exposed if supply disruptions persist.
Ключевые факты
- European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said the EU faces a “very difficult winter” in terms of energy prices. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The G7 agreed to release up to 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from strategic reserves. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Commission welcomed the G7 decision and assesses it will have a positive effect on fuel costs in the EU. [ 2 , 4 ]
- French President Emmanuel Macron said the reserves would be released over the next four months, primarily to lower diesel prices. [ 3 ]
- US President Donald Trump said Washington does not plan to ban diesel exports. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that oil prices began to fall after the G7 announcement and that analysts see the release as short-term relief. [ 4 ]
Подтверждено несколькими источниками
- The European Commission warned that the coming winter will be very difficult for the EU in terms of energy prices. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- G7 countries decided to release up to 100 million barrels of oil and petroleum products from strategic reserves, including diesel. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The European Commission welcomed the G7 decision on the reserve release. [ 2 , 4 ]
- A European Commission spokesperson, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, made the comments to reporters. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Пока неясно
- The exact wording of the warning: outlets report both “очень тяжелая зима” and “очень сложная зима”. Vedomosti quotes “very difficult winter from the point of view of enterprises”, while Kommersant and TASS use “very difficult winter” or “very difficult winter” in slightly different phrasing, so the precise quote is not identical across outlets.
- The spokesperson’s surname is rendered as Иконен by Vedomosti and Итконен by TASS and Kommersant. The spelling differs between outlets for what appears to be the same European Commission representative.
- Whether the reserve release will actually lower fuel prices in the EU. Kommersant reports both a positive assessment from the Commission and scepticism from German Economic Institute experts who call it only short-term relief; the documents do not resolve the disagreement.
- US President Donald Trump’s statement that Washington does not plan to ban diesel exports. This is reported by a single outlet, Vedomosti.
- The reported fall in oil prices after the G7 announcement. Only Kommersant reports this, attributing it to IEA head Fatih Birol.
- Europe’s dependence on US diesel for more than half of its imports, and the effect of Middle East and Ukraine conflicts on diesel exports. These details appear only in Kommersant and are not corroborated by the other documents.
- When exactly the Brussels briefing took place. The documents give only publication times, not the time of the briefing itself.
Что пишут местные СМИ
Хронология, местное время
- RBC reports the EU warning of a “very heavy winter” because of energy prices, noting the G7 decision to release 100 million barrels of diesel and oil. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen welcomed the EU and G7 decision to release oil and diesel from strategic reserves and warned of a difficult winter. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti publishes the spokesperson’s warning, Macron’s 2 October statement on the four-month release and Trump’s comment on diesel exports. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reports the Brussels briefing, the expected positive effect of the release and expert doubts about its duration. [ 4 ]