OREANDA-NEWS. The leader of the European People's Party (EPP) Manfred Weber called on the European Union to invest in liquefied natural gas (LNG). Such a measure could reduce the region's dependence on Russian supplies, he said in an interview with the German newspaper Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.

He called the independence in the field of energy supply an important goal of the EU. “We can buy LNG all over the world to become more independent from Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Weber said. The politician believes that "Putin treats Europe badly," and gas prices are one of the ways of pressure. Russia can use this tool, despite the fact that it complies with its contractual obligations, the EPP leader said.

Weber also called on Europe to quickly get rid of old fossil energy forms and switch to renewable sources.

Millions of Europeans will face poverty due to high energy prices, said earlier the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicholas Schmidt. Many families will not be able to pay their electricity and gas bills, he said. According to experts, the crisis in European countries will last at least until the end of winter. Many families will not be able to pay their electricity and gas bills, Schmidt said. According to experts, the crisis in European countries will last at least until the end of winter. Millions of families have already suffered because of the situation with energy prices, the newspaper notes.

Not only electricity and gas, which have increased in price by more than 400 percent since the beginning of the year, are growing at a record pace, but also oil. According to the European Trade Union Confederation, almost three million Europeans are unable to heat their homes, although they have permanent jobs.

Europe simply cannot do without natural gas, which it imports mainly from Russia and Norway, the author of IDnes emphasized.