The Czech presidency assures that European countries are “committed” to take measures that limit the price of gas
The twenty-seven will meet again on September 30 to discuss further ways to limit the price of gas. This was announced on Tuesday by the Czech Republic’s Minister of Industry, Jozef Síkela, who has assured member states that they are “committed” to find a common solution to the exorbitant costs of energy.
The EU has been working since the summer on devising mechanisms to ease the pressure on the European economy. The European Commission is expected to present emergency measures this Wednesday to help alleviate the situation. These mechanisms, as European sources have pointed out, could be adopted immediately and within days and could include saving electricity consumption by Member States during peak hours, limiting the benefits of infra-marginal technologies (renewable and nuclear) and a “solidarity tax” for energy companies to protect the most vulnerable consumers.
The Energy Ministers of the Twenty-seven met last Friday to define the package of mechanisms that Brussels now outlines. During that debate, European countries were in reasonable agreement on almost all points, except on imposing a price cap on Russian gas or on all gas imported into the EU. The initiative to limit the cost of gas imported from Moscow has reluctance from Hungary and countries like Germany, who fear it will endanger the continent’s energy security. Norway, now the main supplier of gas to Europe, has shown that it refuses to lower the price of all gas that reaches its territory.
The lack of full support for the latter measure raises concerns that it will be left out of emergency mechanisms in Brussels and may eventually be discussed in the extraordinary Council of the 30th. “We must continue to work on limiting the gas price and guaranteeing security of energy supply,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assured last week.
Source: La Verdad
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