In record time, the European Union has agreed on a package of measures which aims to cut back energy usage across the EU by 15% between August 1 and March 31 next, to offset Russian attempts to weaponize gas in support of its invasion of Ukraine. The deal was signed off by the Council of Ministers just a week after the Commission tabled its plan “Save gas for a safe winter” here and here.
Reacting to the Commission’s proposals, IndustriAll Europe’s General Secretary Luc Triangle said:
“These proposals will have enormous implications for our members and workers across Europe – there must be detailed social impact assessments and dialogue with the social partners to ensure that we do not inflict further long-term damage on our societies in responding to this critical situation. We need rescue packages to cushion the impact on citizens on the one hand and measures to ensure decent industrial work on the other hand, for example in the form of financing, capital aid and guarantees.”
Meanwhile, EurActiv reports that:
The United States is on track to blow past Biden’s March commitment of an additional 15 billion cubic meters of LNG for Europe this year, according to a Reuters analysis of export data compiled by Refinitiv, and to triple the pledge.
Over the coming months, BEERG/HR Policy Global will host regular, informal discussions among member companies on the labour relations fallout from the upcoming energy cutbacks, and their impact on the cost-of-living/inflation crisis hitting many European countries. Watch for details of our next call. If you have any information which you think would be of interest to other companies, email us and we will arrange to circulate.
