In 2021, the EU’s natural gas import dependency rate was 83%. This is 1 percentage point (pp) less than 2020 (84%). This small decrease in import dependency was significantly influenced by the fact that most EU Member States used stocks of natural gas that were imported in previous years. In fact, the drop in natural gas stocks in 2021 was the largest since the start of the time series (2008). The EU Member State with the highest dependency on natural gas imports in 2021 was Malta (104%), followed by Sweden (102%) and Lithuania (101%), which have increased their stocks. On the other hand, the lowest dependency on natural gas imports was recorded in Romania (24%), followed by Denmark (26%) and the Netherlands (33%). The impact of a potential import disruption needs to take into account the importance of natural gas in the overall energy mix. While the import dependency in Sweden, Finland and Estonia is near 100%, the share of natural gas in the energy mix is relatively low (3%, 7% and 8% respectively). By contrast, the highest share of natural gas in the energy mix is in Italy (40%) and its import dependency is 94%. The Netherlands has the 2nd highest share of natural gas in its energy mix, however its import dependency is much lower, due to its domestic production of natural gas. When compared with 2020, the largest increases in the dependency rate on natural gas imports were recorded in Malta (from 96% in 2020 to 104% in 2021; +8 pp), Ireland (from 64% to 71%; +7 pp) and Romania (from 17% to 24%; also +7 pp). At the other end of the scale, the largest decreases were recorded in Latvia (from 121% to 61%; -59 pp), Austria (from 73% to 51%; -22 pp) and Slovakia (from 88% to 69%; -20 pp).
Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Díaz, Tracy Chevalier, the author of the international best seller Girl with a Pearl Earring, and French author Michel Bussi, known for his widely translated thriller novels, are among the authors set to attend this year’s Iași International Literature and Translation Festival (FILIT), the largest literary festival in the country. They […]
Bucharest is about to welcome a culinary moment like no other. This September, the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel will host Michelin-starred Chef Theodor Falser - a name synonymous with nature-inspired haute cuisine - for three exclusive evenings that promise to delight the senses and tell stories through food. The Chef Who Cooks Nature Theodor […]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has endorsed Romania’s latest fiscal measures, forecasting that the economy will grow by 1% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026, the government said Friday, September 12, after talks with a visiting IMF delegation. The delegation, led by Joong Shik Kang, met prime minister Ilie Bolojan in Bucharest to discuss the […]
The George Ciprian Theater in Buzău has unveiled “E-Waste E-Motion,” the first performance in Romania in which all characters are played by small autonomous robots, blending art, technology, and sustainability in an experimental theatrical project. “E-Waste E-Motion” is part of a broader artistic research initiative supported by the National University of Theatre and Film (UNATC) […]
With extensive experience in the luxury hospitality sector, gained as General Manager of Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam and Hotel Okura Amsterdam (LHW), as well as in various Director of Operations and Business Development roles, Ms. Emmy Stoel is a seasoned professional whose career reflects a deep passion for excellence in guest service, having successfully […]
Update: The woman made her first statements on Friday afternoon after being questioned. According to Digi24, she told journalists outside a police station in Bucharest that the items were family heirlooms from the Soviet era, and that she...
