The Belgian Energy Minister has warned that EU countries face five to ten terrible winters if nothing is done to reduce natural gas prices. Calls are growing across the EU to set a cap on gas prices and decouple them from electricity prices.

EU countries have been struggling with a massive surge in energy prices since the main gas supplier, Russia, invaded Ukraine in February, following specific EU sanctions. Countries supporting Ukraine are trying to reduce their imports of Russian gas and oil.

Russia, which supplied 40% of the EU's gas last year, has in turn restricted supply.

Belgian Energy Minister Tinne van der Straeten stated on the social network Twitter that gas prices in Europe must be frozen urgently, adding that the link between gas and electricity prices is artificial and should be reformed.

“The next five to ten winters will be terrible if we do nothing,” she said. “We must act at the European level and work on freezing gas prices.”

Electricity prices in Europe have also risen sharply, reaching record levels this week. Gas is a primary source of electricity generation.

“We have to stop this madness that is currently happening in the energy markets,” said Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. (...)