The Twenty-seven are trying to advance the negotiations in Prague and hope to reach an agreement before the October summit
The informal summit of European leaders in Prague this Friday served to give new impetus to negotiations to limit energy prices. There were no conclusions, but all countries agreed that “urgent” action is needed. They have not yet agreed on the most appropriate measures to achieve this, but they hope to reach an agreement at the next European summit, which will take place in Brussels in two weeks.
The letter from the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has laid the foundation for the energy discussions. In that document, the head of the Community Executive urged to promote the joint gas purchasing platform — which has the support of the majority of states — reducing electricity consumption and setting a limit on the gas used. to generate electricity. This measure could gain more support than imposing a limit on all gas, something countries like Germany reject.
Proposals are not lacking. Four countries, Belgium, Poland, Italy and Greece, have proposed establishing a flexible price corridor, with a maximum that would apply to all gas imports, regardless of their origin and use. According to the text, the measure would set a limit that is “sufficiently high and flexible” to attract supply to Europe and to be able to buy above that ceiling “if necessary”.
The thresholds would change based on the continent’s offerings. In situations of scarcity or potential scarcity, this cap would be revised and allowed to increase that cap price by “5%,” the document states. Faced with a situation of scarcity, these countries commit themselves to demand reduction, solidarity measures and redistribution among the Member States.
Criticism also poured in on the 200 billion euro aid package announced by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to cushion the blow of rising prices for German businesses and households. Poland has stressed that “German selfishness must be stopped”. Brussels, for its part, has insisted that the solutions must be common. “We need to create a basis for all countries to compete at the same level, preserve the single market and avoid fragmentation. It is extremely important,” emphasizes von der Leyen.
In this sense, the Community Executive is willing to give more leeway to the Twenty-seven by extending the framework of state aid to support companies affected by the energy crisis. In principle, this mechanism was expected to be in place until the end of the year, but Brussels plans to increase the maximum planned support and provide liquidity to energy companies.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
