EU energy ministers on Tuesday agreed to a unique plan for member states to voluntarily reduce their use of natural gas consumption by 15 percent from the beginning of August until the end of March.

The unprecedented plan aims to ensure adequate gas supplies in the EU in colder months, as there are concerns Russia could further disrupt or completely shut off its natural gas supply to Europe. Ministers also agreed that the reductions could become mandatory, if such a situation arose.

After representing Finland at the EU meeting, Minister of Economic Affairs, Mika Lintilä (Cen), said he was pleased with the agreement.

"I am very pleased that the [EU's] larger countries showed their strong support. Matters of solidarity surpassed those of national interest," he said, adding that he thinks Russia's energy exports now have a single main goal.

"Moscow aims to use energy to break up the EU," he said.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Lintilä said that Russia's behaviour has managed to boost unity within the European Union and prompted Nato's expansion, referring to Finland and Sweden's pending applications to become members of the military alliance.

No changes in Finland

Minister Lintilä noted that the EU gas reduction goal will not cause changes in Finland, as it reduced its natural gas consumption by up to 50 percent following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February.

Finland has not received any gas deliveries from Russia since May.

A European Council statement issued on Tuesday announcing the agreement said that Russia "is continuously using energy supplies as a weapon."

Czech Republic's minister of industry and trade Jozef Síkela said the EU is "united and solidary."

"Today's decision has clearly shown the member states will stand tall against any Russian attempt to divide the EU by using energy supplies as a weapon. Adopting the gas reduction proposal in record time has undoubtedly strengthened our common energy security. Saving gas now will improve preparedness. The winter will be much cheaper and easier for EU's citizens and industry," Síkela said in the Council statement.

The agreement is based on individual member states reducing their gas demand by 15 percent compared to their average consumption during 2017-2022. It is up to each country to decide what measures to take to achieve the voluntary reduction. The Council also said it may be necessary to "trigger a 'Union alert' on security of supply, in which case the gas demand reduction would become mandatory."