In the plan, officials have proposed a voluntary target for its 27 member states to reduce their gas demand by 15% between August and March next year.

The Commission also hopes to pass a new law that would give it the power to impose mandatory gas reduction targets on states during times of severe shortages.

Europe has already managed to whittle down Russia's share of its gas supply from 40% last year to just 20% in June, according to economics think tank Bruegel. Germany, the bloc's biggest economy, has cut Russia's share of its gas imports to 35% from 55%.

The bloc has raced to find replacements, signing new supply deals and ramping up output from Norway and imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

But the situation in Europe remains "perilous," according to Birol.

The IEA said earlier this week that Europe must find ways to save 12 billion cubic meters of gas — equal to about 3% of its annual consumption — over the next 12 weeks to avert severe difficulties.

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"This winter could become a historic test of European solidarity — one it cannot afford to fail," he said.

In the plan, officials have proposed a voluntary target for its 27 member states to reduce their gas demand by 15% between August and March next year.

The Commission also hopes to pass a new law that would give it the power to impose mandatory gas reduction targets on states during times of severe shortages.

Europe has already managed to whittle down Russia's share of its gas supply from 40% last year to just 20% in June, according to economics think tank Bruegel. Germany, the bloc's biggest economy, has cut Russia's share of its gas imports to 35% from 55%.

The bloc has raced to find replacements, signing new supply deals and ramping up output from Norway and imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

But the situation in Europe remains "perilous," according to Birol.

The IEA said earlier this week that Europe must find ways to save 12 billion cubic meters of gas — equal to about 3% of its annual consumption — over the next 12 weeks to avert severe difficulties.

*

"This winter could become a historic test of European solidarity — one it cannot afford to fail," he said.