NATURAL GAS

A EU-wide 15% reduction of natural gas consumption will come into force early next week, the Czech presidency of the EU Council announced. The regulation was adopted officially, and the text will be published in the Official Journal on Monday and will take effect the next day. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, called on member states to prepare for the worst-case scenario of Russia suspending gas supplies. Member states must also secure 80% of their winter needs ahead of time.