EU Energy Challenges Next Winter Will Exceed Current Issues, European Commission

The European Union is bracing for significant difficulties in the winter of 2023-2024, which could become more extensive than the challenges anticipated in the upcoming months. This was stated by Ditte Juul Jørgensen, the Director General for Energy of the European Commission, in an interview with the Washington Post.

“It is going to be a tough winter, but I believe we have done everything to prepare for it. I think the bigger problem, compared to the upcoming months, will be the winter of 2023-2024,” she said.

According to Jørgensen, such forecasts are based on imbalances in the global financial markets, including the gas markets. Previously, the share of Russian gas in the European market was estimated at around 40 percent; however, as Jørgensen noted, by November, it had fallen to only 7 percent, thanks to increased supplies from the United States and other partners.

The European Commission representative also indicated that the EU anticipates difficulties related to the replenishment of energy reserves in March and April 2023.