OREANDA-NEWS  Natural gas reserves in the European Union are dangerously depleted, which is fraught with new problems with energy supply. This was reported by Politico.

The EU's most vulnerable point in this situation turned out to be Germany. If it faces a gas shortage, it will affect other countries of the union, which will lead to higher prices throughout the bloc if Germany is unable to quickly restore reserves.

According to Sebastian Heinermann, managing director of the leading German gas storage association INES, the level of gas reserves is exceptionally low not only for this time of year, but also historically. However, Berlin, as before, relies on an outdated market-oriented approach. However, now there are practically no market and economic incentives left.

According to analysts, the risks have worsened after Brussels replaced long-term supply agreements from Russia with purchases of LNG on the global market. However, these sea cargoes are highly mobile and go to the highest bidder. As a result, the fragmented EU energy sector found itself in a state of intense competition with the more centralized Asian economies, which operate much more quickly.

In such a situation, Heinermann urges the German authorities to stop procrastinating and accelerate the filling of gas storage facilities.

Earlier it became known that in June 2026, EU countries increased imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia by 14 percent. This could disrupt Brussels' plans to abandon purchases of this energy source by 2027.