PARIS, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) — The European Union (EU) is battling high energy prices, which are a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The EU has vowed to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels while transitioning to green energy.

“The Europeans are trying to solve the energy crisis in several ways, including decreasing the consumption of electricity and gas, setting a maximum price of imported gas, returning to the use of coal and operating nuclear plants, and increasing the use of renewable energy sources,” said Ahamed Kandil, an expert at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, Egypt.

In France, reports said that one in four gas stations were running out of stock of at least one type of fuel.

The country is planning to reactivate more nuclear power to withstand the energy crisis.

“The French government has decided to reactivate nuclear power, as it is the cleanest, safest and most economical way to generate electricity. Nuclear, hydro, coal and gas are the controllable ones. Controllability means that we can produce when we need it,” said Herve Machenaud, the former CEO of EDF’s Asia-Pacific Division and former member of the EDF Group’s Executive Committee.

In Germany, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) said last week that the country has reached its target of filling the country’s gas storage facilities to 95 percent ahead of schedule.

However, a spokesperson for the agency (BNetzA) said that this is “not enough.”

Germany has in recent months constructed terminals for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and introduced energy-saving measures.

In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, a gas pipeline is to be built connecting Iberia to France and the rest of Europe.

He said Spain, France and Portugal have agreed to cooperate on the project, which will hugely increase the volume of two existing links between Spain and France.

In response to the energy woes, the European Commission has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving stability in European gas markets.

These include joint gas purchase, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pricing benchmark, and default energy solidarity between EU member states.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service