Denmark and Sweden signed a solidarity agreement on gas procurement on Monday.

The deal was signed off on by the director general of the Swedish Energy Agency, Robert Andrén, and the director general of the Danish Energy Agency, Kristoffer Böttzauw.

”Our energy systems are complex and linked to several countries. This deal reflects the strength of the international collaboration, where the upsides are apparent, especially when it comes to supply security,” says Andrén in a press statement.

The gas agreement between the two countries will come into force in case of an emergency tied to a potential energy crisis escalation, causing acute gas shortage in the winters to come.

In that case, Denmark will contribute in securing supplies for protected customers in Sweden, which includes households, hospitals, response teams, and other critical functions.

”The deal we have signed today reflects the great united efforts in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – not just in the Nordics, but in the entire EU. No country in the EU or in the Nordics can solve the energy supply crisis on its own. We need to work together and show solidarity with our neighbors – both in terms of supply chains and energy savings,” Böttzauw says in the same statement.

Even though electricity and gas prices has been on a downward trend since the summer of 2022 and European gas inventories are at close to maximum capacity, it will take a lot of work to ensure European supply security, says Böttzauw.

”The energy crisis is not over. The situation is better than feared, but to avoid interruptions for both gas and electricity, it is paramount that we keep tightening the purse strings during the summer and winter. By continuing to show constraint in our energy consumption and enhancing partnerships with our neighbors, I feel quite confident that we will emerge largely unscathed from the energy crisis,” he concludes.