Countries are stepping up to help their citizens pay the bills this winter, when households are expected to bear the brunt of the energy crisis.
Spiralling inflation has sparked a cost-of-living crisis across Europe, and governments are stepping in to try to shield households and businesses from the seemingly never-ending surge in energy prices.
For many families these days, it feels like paycheques are immediately evaporating as inflation drives up the cost of groceries and fuel, landlords increase rent and utility bills keep soaring.
Inflation in the eurozone continued to hover near record highs at 9.9 per cent in September, up from 9.1 in August, fuelled by rising energy prices.
There’s no sign of the energy crisis improving, as Russia said in September it would not fully resume its gas supplies to Europe until the West lifts the sanctions it imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo has warned Europe could face up to 10 difficult winters as a result of the standoff.
European Union member states are largely responsible for their national energy policies, and EU rules allow them to take emergency measures to protect consumers from rising costs. Here’s a look at what governments across the continent are doing to help.