{"id":2546,"date":"2024-12-02T09:54:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T06:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/factcheck.lt\/?p=2546"},"modified":"2025-01-12T22:59:45","modified_gmt":"2025-01-12T19:59:45","slug":"","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/factcheck.lt\/eng\/news\/european_frozen\/","title":{"rendered":"Fact check: Are Europeans really forced to save on heating due to sanctions and rising prices?","raw":"Fact check: Are Europeans really forced to save on heating due to sanctions and rising prices?"},"content":{"rendered":"

2 December 2024, the CTVBY channel aired its traditional report titled: “Europeans Forced to Save! EU Prices Break New Records | The West Freezes Without Russian Gas?”<\/p>\n

The report included the following statements:<\/p>\n

\nEven sunny Italy, where temperature problems shouldn’t exist, is also freezing. Rome, along with its coalition partners, joined the anti-Russian sanctions. This means they are left without affordable gas. Heating might become a luxury for most. For a family with one or two children, these services together can sometimes cost 300\u2013400 euros. Rising energy prices are, of course, the main reason for increasingly burdensome bills for Europeans. Sanctions turned into a shot in the foot, as EU companies continue to buy Russian gas and oil. But now it\u2019s through intermediaries like China, the UAE, and Turkey. Each adds their markup.<\/p>\n

“We have excellent relations with Algeria regarding gas. We buy almost half of our gas from Algeria. And of course, when we hear that there are sanctions against Russia in this regard, it\u2019s laughable because 50% of Algeria\u2019s oil and gas companies are owned by Gazprom. So we still buy energy from a Russian company, just not directly from Russia.”<\/p>\n

EU countries are engaging in schemes to pay for Russian fuel without losing face in front of European colleagues. Yet even such cat-and-mouse games come at a cost. In the rankings of electricity expenses, the Baltic sisters are close together. Latvia ranks fourth, Estonia fifth. Poland isn\u2019t far behind, sitting in seventh place. Utility bills in this country cost 250\u2013300 euros monthly, excluding winter price increases. Complicating matters is the fact that the EU\u2019s gas reserves are melting before our eyes faster than glaciers in the ocean. For the first time in 13 years, the EU could run out of fuel by the end of winter rather than early spring.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

### Our Verdict Based on Analysis:<\/p>\n

\n

Verdict: Incorrect<\/h2>\n

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\nReasons:<\/p>\n