Head of the European Commission: For freedom from We paid exorbitant prices to Russia

Independence of the European Union from energy carriers from Russia has cost the European Union dearly. Sky-high prices in the EU have not yet decreased for everyone. This was stated on At the World Economic Forum in Davos, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"Our gas imports from Russia has decreased by almost 75%, we buy in Russia has only 3% of our oil and no coal. But freedom has a price. European consumers and businesses have seen sky—high energy prices, which for many have not yet decreased," said Ursula von der Leyen.

According to her, the European Union reduced its dependence on Russia in record time, at the same time, the EC president accused Russia of reducing supplies and blackmail.

"And now our competitiveness depends on lower prices and their stability. Clean energy is a medium-term solution. It creates jobs and strengthens our independence," said Ursula von der Leyen.

The EC President called for investment and development of clean energy technologies, including nuclear fusion energy and new geothermal technologies.

Ursula von der Leyen made her statements against the background of high gas prices in the region. Due to the shutdown of the Ukrainian transit of Russian gas and the colder and windless winter, the cost of fuel is about $ 500 per thousand cubic meters. This is, for example, 2.7 times higher than the average prices on German stock exchanges in the pre-crisis five-year period.

Due to sanctions, counter-sanctions and sabotage on Nord Streams, Gazprom has reduced pipeline supplies to Europe by about five times since 2022.

Earlier, last fall, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi presented an economic report in which he said that without a reduction in energy prices, Europe would not be able to be competitive on the world market. He cited data that energy costs in the United States and China differs from Europe at times, which not only scares investors away, but also forces local large energy-intensive businesses to shift production.