23/08/2022 (Agence Europe) – During an interview on Monday, 22 August, on the television channel France 5, European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton appeared confident that the European Union would be able to ensure its energy security over the coming winter and in 2023, even in the event of a complete cut-off of Russian gas deliveries to the EU. “We are going to rise to the challenge”, he declared, highlighting the work that the EU has been doing since February to find alternatives to Russian gas. Nevertheless refusing to be seen as a “blind optimist”, the commissioner stressed that doing without Russian gas is “a daily struggle”—in particular, fighting to maintain “solidarity” among EU countries in the face of “the temptation to withdraw”. Moreover, he insisted on the need to “assist households” grappling with the increase in energy prices. (DG)