Europe could soon face a significant reduction in industrial activity and social unrest unless something is done to lower energy prices before winter sets in, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has warned.
Soaring energy prices, due to sanctions on Russia and its global partners, will lead to drastic long-term consequences on the continent, Alexander De Croo told the Financial Times.
In an interview with the Financial Times published on Thursday, he said that unless there was an intervention in the gas markets, we are risking massive de-industrialization of the European continent and the long-term consequences that might actually be very deep.
De Croo insisted on a multi-layered approach to the gas crisis, which he says should include a hard price cap on Russian natural gas.
Negotiations with suppliers such as Norway and Algeria, and a dynamic limit on the price of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which he suggests could be set slightly above prices in the USA or Asia to ensure continued flows to Europe.
The Belgian leader also warned that governments must be prudent not only to counter soaring inflation, which stems from high energy prices, but also tackle the risk of social unrest that comes with it.
Our populations are getting invoices which are completely insane. At some point, it will snap. I understand that people are angry if they have no more means to pay it for political failures.
His comments come after thousands of demonstrators rallied in Brussels in late September to demand higher wages and lower energy prices after it was revealed that some 64% of the country’s citizens were afraid of not being able to pay their energy bills which had reached a staggering average of €700 ($690) a month.
The Belgian PM had previously warned that the next five to ten winters will be difficult in Europe due to record gas prices, but stated that Belgium would endure the crisis if we support the European governments and each other in these difficult times.
Gas prices in Europe surged earlier this year after Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in late February, 2022.
After the EU and other Western countries imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow and began a campaign of cutting themselves off from Russian energy supplies, gas prices hit record levels, leading to a rise in overall inflation on the continent.
RT. com / ABC Flash Point Chaos News 2022.
Maybe Europe will be able to meet its CO2 emissions targets.
This is so wonderful. Wars bring out truth and reveal hypocrisy. Russia is hated for promoting capitalism and democracy, while EU nations want to usher in socialism and authoritarianism. This is so cool. I never thought I’d live to see it. Much will be written about this era.
USA and CIA are working hard to destroy Europe!
Somebody should tell these lame brain European ‘leaders” that it they who laid a bed of nails for themselves and their people so they better lie in it. They should stop contradicting themselves every time they open their gob.