The European Commission said on Tuesday that “further studies are needed” on the impacts of a price cap on gas imports by pipeline from Russia or from another supplier to Europe, and should not proceed with such a measure yet.
“While a gas price cap for gas imports via Russian pipelines might better respond to the current manipulation of supply chains and prices, more work is needed to assess potential adverse impacts in some Member States. “said the European Commissioner for Energy on Tuesday. Kadri Simson.
The position of the European responsible for responsibility was conveyed to MEPs in a debate on the response of the European Union (EU) to the increase in energy prices in the plenary session of the European Parliament, in the French city of Strasbourg, one day ahead of European Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen to propose urgent action in her third State of the Union address.
We remain willing to consider more intrusive measures to lower prices, guaranteeing supply”, said Kadri Simson, specifying that Brussels is also “deepening the analysis on how a horizontal limit could work”. [de preços] especially the gas imported by Europe and its implications”.
At a time when there are fears of a complete cut off of Russian gas supplies to the EU, the truth is that 13 of the 27 Member States are more dependent on said supply, for fear of serious disturbances.
The measures that the community executive will announce on Wednesday should also not include a price limit for liquefied natural gas (LNG), and the European commissioner has indicated that the institution “is ready to start working.” [de análise] on a benchmark price index.
“The current benchmark price index is a pipeline index and no longer adequately reflects the actual market supply and demand” for LNG, he explained.
In this speech, the day before the launch of the long-awaited emergency proposals, Kadri Simson admitted that “there is no magic formula for prices to return to pre-war levels” in Ukraine, which exacerbated the energy crisis. , but promised an “emergency package of measures aimed at relieving pressure on prices and helping citizens”.
Present at the occasion on behalf of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Minister of European Affairs of the Czech Republic, Mikulás Bek, assured that the relevant ministers “will quickly examine” the Brussels proposals, specifically in an extraordinary meeting on 30 September, this Tuesday convened.
Our ambition is to find an agreement between the Member States on the first emergency measures even before the start of the cold season”, added Mikulás Bek.
The measures will then be announced on Wednesday by Ursula von der Leyen, who last week already put some ideas on the table, among which is the imposition of a cap on the profits of low-cost electricity producing companies and a “ solidarity contribution” of fossil fuels. fuel companies, as well as a binding target to reduce electricity consumption and the facilitation of liquidity support by Member States for energy service companies facing problems due to this market volatility.
Geopolitical tensions due to the war in Ukraine have affected the European energy market, as the EU imports 90% of the gas it consumes, with Russia responsible for around 45% of these imports, at varying levels between member states.
In Portugal, Russian gas represented, in 2021, less than 10% of the total imported.
Source: Observadora
