European energy crisis: leaders grapple with tough choices

European energy crisis: leaders grapple with tough choices

The EU's 27 state leaders are meeting on Thursday and Friday in Brussels as the continent is gripped by a severe energy crisis. Talks are expected to be tough. The bloc has so far failed to agree on how to lower gas prices that have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

Many leaders are worried about blackouts and social unrest over the winter. The EU has scrambled to lower its dependency on Russian pipeline gas - Germany managed a 31 per cent reduction last week - but the process of building reserves has been chaotic. Countries outbidding each other for gas supplies has spurred Brussels to come up with a bloc-wide solution.

European energy ministers, diplomats and officials have been negotiating intensely behind closed doors for weeks to finalise proposals for heads of state to examine in the coming days.

Read More : European energy crisis: leaders grapple with tough choices