Greek Cafe . File photoHERAKLION (Greece), Apr 21Unprecedented large-scale anti-Russian sanctions and rising energy prices have an extremely negative impact on Greece and force people to change their lifestyle, residents of the country told RIA Novosti. On April 8, the European Union announced the introduction of the fifth package of anti-Russian sanctions in connection with the military operation in Ukraine. It includes a ban on the import of coal and other solid fossil fuels, despite the fact that the share of Russian imports to the EU in 2021 was: gas — about 45%, crude oil — 27%, coal — 46%. The move sent energy prices skyrocketing across Europe. «The situation will soon become unbearable for many consumers, especially those on a low income. Many people may have to cut back on basic expenses to balance their monthly family budget,» 44-year-old economist Manolis Mpernidakis told RIA Novosti. On Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that global inflation would remain high longer than previously expected, reaching 5.7% this year in advanced economies and 8.7% % in developing countries, which is at least 2% higher than forecast in January. At the same time, the IMF lowered its economic growth forecast for the eurozone to 2.8% this year and 2.3% in 2023, 1.1% lower than previously estimated.
Media: British farmers demand to raise the price of eggs due to fuel spendingThe increase in prices will primarily affect the energy sector, given the current situation in the European energy market, exacerbated by EU sanctions against Russia, explained Mpernidakis. this is something that will continue and the situation will worsen even more in the next few months, especially if new gas sanctions are imposed on Russia, if the Europeans do not resolve the issue of gas supplies in the near future, and also impose additional sanctions on the Russians, or if Russians «turn off the gas valve», then we will find ourselves in a very serious situation,» the economist concluded. On March 8, the European Commission proposed developing a special plan to reduce the demand for Russian gas by two-thirds this year. The commission said the so-called REPowerEU plan would aim to diversify gas supplies, accelerate the deployment of renewables and replace gas in heat and power generation. European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans admitted that cutting the EU's need for Russian gas by two-thirds would be «damn difficult» but possible. 70 euros (2.7-2.9 US dollars), and I think that people will stop filling their cars with gasoline if such a scenario becomes a reality. This is a terrible scenario, and I hope this will not happen, «RIA Novosti said Stelios, owner of a gas station in Rethymno. According to him, the Greeks are now trying not to use their cars, despite the Easter season, remembering the need to save money. many have taken their families to their villages for the holidays, but so far this is not happening and people are basically filling up their cars for 10 or 20 euros just to use the cars for badly needed trips,» C added. telios. Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine», to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for «bloody crimes against civilians» in Donbass. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces strike only at the military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops and, as of March 25, they have completed the main tasks of the first stage — they have significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.
