BERLIN: Germany’s employers and unions have joined together in opposing an immediate European Union (EU) ban on natural gas imports from Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

       They said such a move would lead to factory shutdowns and the loss of jobs in the bloc’s largest economy.

       “A rapid gas embargo would lead to loss of production, shutdowns, a further de-industrialisation and the long-term loss of work positions in Germany,” said Rainer Dulger, chairman of the BDA employer’s group, and Reiner Hoffmann, chairman of the DGB trade union confederation, in a joint statement on Germany’s dpa news agency.

       They argued that EU sanctions needed to be targeted to put pressure on Russia while minimising damages to the countries imposing the sanctions, saying “in the current discussion, we don’t see that”.

       The statement comes as European leaders are discussing possible new energy sanctions against Russian oil, following a decision April 7 to ban Russian coal imports beginning in August.

       Ukraine’s leaders say revenues from Russia’s energy exports are financing Moscow’s destructive war on Ukraine and must be ended.

       That won’t be easy to do. The EU’s 27 nations get around 40% of their natural gas from Russia and around 25% of their oil.

       Natural gas would be the most difficult to do without, energy analysts said

       This is since most of it comes by pipeline from Russia and supplies of liquefied gas, which can be ordered by ship, are limited amid strong demand worldwide.

       Germany, a major manufacturing hub and an importer of Russian gas, has so far resisted an immediate shut-off.

       It said it planned to instead phase out Russian oil by the end of the year and most Russian gas imports by mid-2024.

       The EU’s executive commission has outlined steps to cut the consumption of Russian gas by two-thirds by year’s end through using more pipeline gas from Norway and Azerbaijan, importing more liqueifed gas, accelerating the deployment of wind and solar projects and intensifying conservation efforts.

       German vice-chancellor Robert Habeck said in an interview with the Funke media group that “an immediate gas embargo would endanger social peace in Germany”. — AP