Some European residents will be forced to choose between food and heating this winter, according to European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen.

“In Europe, nearly 50 million people struggle to pay their heating bills during a normal winter. If a person cannot afford heating, they are effectively forced to choose between starving or catching a cold. This is unacceptable,” he said in an interview with the Hungarian publication 444.

According to Jørgensen, the upcoming winter could be particularly difficult due to Europe’s dependence on energy imports and rising prices amid a global fuel shortage.

“We do not know how cold it will be, but we know that we will need more fuel. And the shortage in the global market leads to rising prices,” the European Commissioner added.

It is worth noting that previously, mass protests took place in France, Italy, Spain, Albania, and Portugal against the backdrop of rising living costs, a housing crisis, and other social issues.

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