The European Union (EU) held an ambassador-level meeting on the 22nd to discuss a compromise over the 15% reduction target for gas consumption proposed by the European Commission.


On the 20th, the European Commission presented a plan for member countries to reduce gas usage from August to March next year by 15% of the average usage for the same period from 2016 to 21.


However, Spain, Portugal, and Greece have publicly opposed this, and Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, and Poland are also reluctant.


According to EU diplomats, the proposal submitted by the Czech Republic, the EU's rotating presidency, requires member states to approve any proposal if the European Commission mandates a reduction. The amendment reduced the application period from two years to one year to emphasize that the system is an emergency measure.


Prior to the discussion at the Energy Ministers'Meeting on the 26th, the possibility of further revisions will be discussed at the Ambassadorial Meeting on the 25th.