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Added on the 24/03/2022 12:19:16 - Copyright : France 24 EN
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen warns that "Russia is blackmailing" EU member states and "using energy as a weapon." Russian President Vladimir Putin has played hot and cold in recent days with his threats to cut off gas deliveries to the bloc of 27 members, but Brussels is asking EU countries to prepare for the worst. SOUNDBITE
The European Commission urges EU countries to reduce their demand for natural gas by 15 percent over the coming winter months to overcome Russia's energy supply "blackmail". SOUNDBITE
In Luxembourg, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner says it is not yet possible for the EU to cut Russian gas imports as a sanction against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. SOUNDBITE
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warns that the eurozone could fall into recession next year in the case of a total shutdown of Russian gas supplies. The "downside scenario" for 2023 foresees negative growth in the case of a "total shutdown of all Russian gas supply" and energy rationing in the eurozone, she said, after the ECB unleashed a record rate hike. SOUNDBITE
Extraordinary meeting of EU Ministers of energy in Brussels. They meet in the context of Russian gas supply issue amid the country's conflict with Ukraine. IMAGES
CNN reports that Royal Dutch Shell will slash as many as 9,000 jobs as the oil giant accelerates a shift away from fossil fuels. On Wednesday, the company said it would cut between 7,000 and 9,000 positions by the end of 2022. That's ten percent of its workforce. The total includes 1,500 people who have volunteered to leave the company this year. Shell expects the overhaul to deliver annual cost savings of up to $2.5 billion by 2022. Shell said the job losses are part of a restructuring, aimed at cutting costs and simplifying the company's structure as it moves into low-carbon energy.