EU power ministers met for a rare council assembly to debate a unified European response to the power disaster and the rising chance of a complete Russian fuel embargo this winter.
Talking on the finish of a “tough dialogue” on Friday (9 September), Czech trade minister Jozef Sikela outlined 4 probably measures that can be applied “earlier than the top of the month.”
These embrace a cap on extra revenues made by power corporations, a plan to make use of much less electrical energy and fuel, a solidarity “levy” on fossil gas corporations and non permanent liquidity assist to struggling corporations.
“Putin anticipated to divide us. He didn’t and won’t succeed,” Sikela additionally stated.
There was, nonetheless, a long way between Sikela’s account of the assembly and that of power commissioner Kadri Simson.
Whereas Simson left open the potential for a worth restrict on Russian fuel solely, Sikela stated a worth restrict could be imposed on all imported fuel.
Likewise, Belgian power minister Tinne van der Streaten tweeted “a transparent sign” was given to the fee that “all EU fuel imports,” needs to be capped, not simply fuel coming from Russia.
Simpson, nonetheless, stated, “nothing had been determined but.”
She additionally reminded the room {that a} worth ceiling for all fuel imports limits the EU’s capacity to compete for abroad fuel imports from non-Russian sources.
“A common worth cap might current a safety of provide problem, and LNG is a aggressive world market,” she stated. “Proper now, you will need to change Russian provide that can be wanted through the winter months.;”
She additionally stated the fee will “intensify” negotiations with member states “who’re most-dependent on Russian fuel,” and who’re additionally prone to oppose a worth ceiling on Russian fuel alone, terrified of repercussions.
As EU negotiators proceed to iron out variations, most particular person member states have already applied assist measures, which in response to suppose tank Bruegel quantity as much as €400bn.
The options pursued by member states to this point fluctuate wildly.
“I’m going to make a degree at present that we have to save power,” Dutch state secretary Hans Vijlbroek stated at arrival, a degree supported by the German and Irish power ministers.
Greece, which spends 3.7 p.c of its GDP in assist measures to protect companies and households towards rising costs — greater than some other EU nation — has boosted the burning of highly-polluting lignite for energy manufacturing, from 10 to twenty p.c.
“Both we agree on a plan to assist households or we give up to the desire of a totalitarian state,” Greek power minister Konstantinos Skrekas stated.
One other power assembly will probably be deliberate earlier than the top of the month, Sikela stated.
