The EU's demand for natural gas has been declining for 2 consecutive years, recording a fall of over 13% in 2022 and another drop of 7.4% in 2023, totalling 12.72 million terajoules in 2023. The largest natural gas consumers in the EU reduced their demand during 2023, with gas consumption decreasing by -3.8% in Germany, by 10% in Italy, and by 12% in France. Over the 27 EU countries, demand decreased in 21, with increases recorded in Finland (+26%), Sweden (+11%), Poland (+5.3%), Malta (+4.5%), Denmark (+1.1%) and Croatia (+0.8%). Measures outlined in the Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1369 on coordinated demand-reduction measures for gas as part of the REPowerEU plan to end EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels, are estimated to have affected the EU’s natural gas demand, as well as the ongoing energy crisis and the increase of energy prices.
In July 2022, the EU Council adopted a regulation on a voluntary reduction of natural gas demand by 15% as an urgent response to the energy crisis caused by Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. The measure was extended until 31 March 2025. Thanks to the measures, the EU succeeded in phasing out approximately 65 bcm of Russian gas in 2023, primarily in households and industries.