von der Leyen warns that re-importing Russian oil would be a strategic mistake
Since the war in Iran, Europe has spent an additional 3 billion euros on fossil energy. The President of the European Commission believes this is the price Europe pays for its dependence on fossil energy.
On Wednesday, March 11, European Commission President von der Leyen told the European Parliament that the war in Iran had cost the EU's 27 member states about 3 billion euros in energy imports. However, if Europe tries to suppress soaring energy prices by reusing Russian fossil fuels, it would be a strategic mistake.
Since Russia's President Putin ordered the Russian military invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has gradually stopped importing energy from Russia.
von der Leyen said the EU is working on plans to lower energy prices, including better use of power purchase agreements, national aid measures, and gas price subsidies or setting price caps.
Since the war in Iran, natural gas prices have risen by 50%, and oil prices have risen by 27%. If converted into euros, the war in just 10 days has cost European taxpayers an additional 3 billion euros for fossil fuel imports. von der Leyen said, "This is the price we pay for our dependence on fossil energy."
She said, "In fact, we have local energy: renewable energy and nuclear power. Over the past 10 days, their prices have remained unchanged. However, in the current crisis, some people believe we should abandon our long-term strategy and even rely again on Russian fossil fuels. This would be a strategic mistake. It would make us more dependent, more vulnerable, and weaker."
Source: DW
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859385550517324/
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