The leaders of the 27 European Union countries arrived in Brussels today for a European Union summit aimed at discussing bringing down energy prices. Persistent divisions among them mean the European Union is unlikely now to put a ceiling on what it pays for gas.
“We have tools, we have measures, it is possible to act in order to lower prices, in order to reduce the consumption and also in order to guarantee as much as possible the security of supply. The proposals are on the table, the conclusions are, I think, a good balance in order to reach an agreement today. It will probably be difficult, but this is very important today or tomorrow, to send a very strong signal that we are determined to act together, in order to have a positive impact. This is fundamental for our households, for our families, for the businesses across the EU,” Charles Michel, EU Council President, said.
Latvian Prime Minister Karins said he hoped EU member states would “come around” and agree on joint gas procurement and price caps on import.
“In times of crisis, there is always a challenge and, often in the beginning, not everyone is on the same page. For my side, I will do everything to convince and argue why it is in everyone’s self-interest actually to work together. Because also on the potential joint procurement of gas, one can participate, or one can not participate but that would have a downward pressure on prices. It would be a very good thing. Similarly, if a price cap on imported gas can be managed – and there are many questions (on) how it could be managed – that would have a downward pressure on prices, and that’s what we all need,” Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins said.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Poland will strongly call for price caps on gas.
“Poland, one more time, will strongly call for the price caps on gas, or the price corridor for gas. Practically speaking, the final effect (of these two solutions) will be similar and based on my talks with presidents and prime ministers, more and more countries support such solutions, so I count on the European Commission to quickly act on the implementation of such solutions,” Mateusz Morawiecki, Polish Prime Minister, said.