The dispute over a gas price cap to lower energy prices in the EU threatens to escalate. At a meeting of representatives of the member states in Brussels on Friday, according to participants, heated discussions broke out again.
According to this statement, countries such as Belgium, Italy and Greece demanded a concrete proposal from the European Commission to limit prices as soon as possible. Other countries, such as Germany or the Netherlands, again raised concerns and called for further expert-level discussions and testing so as not to jeopardize security of supply.
Most states are going too slow
At the EU summit in October, heads of state and government agreed on a variable gas price cap to curb extreme wholesale price volatility. The EU Commission was asked to submit a draft law for this – when exactly remained open. Most EU countries now seem to be moving too slowly. Charles Michel, head of the Council of EU countries, recently lamented in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: “Procrastinating is no longer an option.”
“Different assessments of the EU countries”
The EU commission responded Friday in a joint letter with Petr Fiala, who, as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, holds the Presidency of the Council. It states that the European Commission is determined to make concrete proposals without delay for the correction mechanism in the gas market. However, there are different assessments by Member States on the expected effects, benefits and risks. Therefore, work continues to meet expectations.
No bill before the meeting of energy ministers?
In concrete terms, this means that a full draft gas price cap bill is unlikely before the meeting of energy ministers on November 24. According to the EU commission, there will only be a concept for the price ceiling before the meeting.
Source: Krone
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.
