The European Commission said natural gas storage levels across the European Union remain below the historical average but stressed that there is currently no threat to the bloc's energy security.

Speaking at a press briefing in Brussels, European Commission Energy spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said EU gas storage facilities were less full than the average recorded during the same period in previous years.

"At this stage, our member states are not experiencing any security of supply problems," Itkonen said.

Commission closely monitoring developments

Itkonen said the Commission continues to closely monitor the situation through the EU Gas Coordination Group, which meets regularly to assess market conditions and the preparedness of member states.

She acknowledged that gas storage levels differ significantly across the bloc but noted that the European Union introduced a series of legal measures after the 2022 energy crisis to strengthen the resilience of the gas market and improve energy security.

According to the Commission, mechanisms are available should market conditions worsen, although current circumstances do not require emergency measures.

Current situation differs from 2022 energy crisis

The Commission stressed that today's market conditions are fundamentally different from those seen during the 2022 energy crisis, when Europe faced severe supply disruptions.

While gas inventories are below historical averages, the EU said there are currently no indications of supply shortages affecting member states.

Latest data show that EU gas storage facilities are approximately 72 per cent full, compared with a five-year average of around 89.5 per cent for the same period.

Storage levels continue to vary among member states, with some countries reporting significantly lower reserves than others. Nevertheless, the Commission said the bloc's gas infrastructure, diversified supply sources and available contingency measures provide sufficient flexibility to maintain energy security.

The European Commission said it would continue monitoring storage levels and market developments throughout the heating season to ensure a stable and reliable energy supply across the European Union.(ILKHA)