Following the pandemic, we are again going through unprecedented challenges at a regional and global level. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has accentuated the supply-chains disruptions that were triggered by the pandemic in conjunction with a level of food and energy inflation which the world only experienced more than four decades ago. Yet, the real crisis is potentially still ahead of us and it goes beyond exaggerated energy costs. Europe is facing a real prospect of an energy supply crisis. Judging by Russia’s evident reluctance to provide the agreed supply through Nord Stream 1, one is justified to prepare for the worst as winter approaches and demand for energy increases. Amid Russia’s threats, the EU is scrambling to find solutions in the face of a situation that may leave millions of citizens without electricity in the coldest and harshest months. This is why the European Commission proposed a reduction for every single country’s demand for energy by nothing short of 15 per cent. This will allow countries to prepare themselves for the eventuality of a Russian decision to halt supply. During my time as MEP and vice president of the Socialists and Democrats Group, I called...