By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE —July 26th
Germany on the brink: EU’s economic powerhouse is heading for recession and energy rationing – with bills tripling – after Merkel ignored warnings Putin could cripple Europe by choking gas supplies
Russia is slowly choking off gas supplies to Germany, which are now down to just 20 per cent of normal level
Country is now facing an acute shortage over winter, amid warnings whole industries may have to shut down
£240billion could be wiped off the economy, experts warn, which could plunge into a recession until 2024
Household bills could triple, with street lights dimmed and swimming pools already shut to make savings
Pain is a legacy of Angela Merkel, who ignored 15 years of warnings about over-reliance on Russian energy
Europe’s summer heatwave has only just finished, but already panic is growing in Germany over what horrors may lay in store for its citizens this winter.
Vladimir Putin is choking the country’s gas supplies - officially because of ‘essential repair work’ to pipelines, though few doubt he is exacting revenge for Berlin’s defiance over Ukraine. Flows through Nord Stream 1, Germany’s main gas pipe, are now at 20 per cent of normal levels. There are fears it could soon close for good.
That has sparked warnings of energy rationing for both households and businesses which, under worse-case scenarios, could force entire industries to shut down. Domestic energy bills could triple, pushing already-high inflation up by another 2 per cent. £240billion could be wiped off the economy, with aftershocks felt into 2024.
‘Germany is on the cusp of a recession,’ is how top economist Clemens Fuest put it yesterday. Others worry the whole Eurozone could soon go into reverse.
In order to avert a catastrophe, EU leaders today agreed to cut gas use by 15 per cent but Germany - which imports the most Russian gas of any member state by far - faces double that. Economy minister Robert Habeck says he is taking shorter showers, while regional leaders are dimming street lights and closing swimming pools.
The fiasco is a legacy of Angela Merkel, who ignored 15 years of warnings from her own top energy expert Claudia Kemfert that over-reliance on Russian energy would make the country vulnerable.
As Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, co-founder of think-tank Council on Geostrategy, told MailOnline: ‘Germany is in for a rough winter due to its heavy reliance on Russian gas.
‘Despite repeated warnings about the risks of this reliance successive German governments have only deepened it, opening the country up to the risk of Russia doing exactly what it looks to be doing - using gas as a weapon.’
So, are the Krautz thanking Merkel yet for sabotaging their nuke power plants?
MSN,BBC and Daily Mail in one article, wow
U prolly just tryin to distract from Z’s major losses on the battlefield..
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Odessa bridge destroyed again!
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Russians captured the ugly-dog power plant(video verified)
control most of Novolugansk
Ukes retreating to Sammy Hagar.
now the Russians can attack Bahmud from the south soon.
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Russians captured Beer-stove
Russians captured Spermo
Rus are still mopping up Vazhina
Rus captured Pakroska )near Bahmud)
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Seversk in jeopardy as fighting continued on outskirts,in HiHO-ribcage and cyber-ankle
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todays updates from DPA and mil summary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCUjKR7gaao
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbOyHErO-Oc