The European Commission wants the European Union (EU) “prepared for the worst possible scenario” regarding the energy crisis, warning that this winter “will not be easy”, given the high prices and possible disruptions in the gas supply to Europe.
“We have worked tirelessly over the last few months to strengthen our security of supply through diversification, implementing a common storage policy and starting preventive gas and electricity demand reduction in a coordinated manner, but we must not be too complacent, because this is not going to be an easy winter”, says European Energy Commissioner, Kadri Simson in an interview with Lusa agency.
In the written interview with Kadri Simson's, the official argues that, “with the new instruments, the EU is certainly in a much better place than it was until a few months ago”.
“I encourage Member States to continue their efforts to save and store as much gas as possible”, he stresses.
Today, the day he announces new measures for the EU to face high energy prices and possible gas supply disruptions, Kadri Simson tells Lusa that all the packages already proposed contain “instruments to precisely avoid chaos and minimize risks” faced with a cut in Russian supplies.
“We are also intensifying our work on pricing. Member States have just agreed on an emergency intervention in the electricity market and we will soon come forward with other proposals to continue to improve our preparedness, always bearing in mind that we must be prepared for the worst possible scenario”.
Geopolitical tensions over the war in Ukraine have affected the European energy market since the EU depends on Russian fossil fuels, such as gas, and fears supply cuts this winter.
In recent months, Brussels has already come forward with measures such as guidelines for countries to support citizens due to the impact of high energy prices, minimum obligations of 80% gas storage in the EU, targets for a 15% reduction in gas consumption and 10% of electricity, temporary ceilings of 180 euros per megawatt-hour for electricity produced from sources such as renewables and nuclear, taxation of 33% on extraordinary profits of oil, gas, coal and refineries, and the possibility to declare emergency in the face of Russian gas cut.
Speaking about the measures adopted, Kadri Simson says that the European Commission has given “all Member States a wide set of instruments to be able to face the impact of high energy prices, especially on vulnerable customers, families and companies”.
“We have also recently adopted new measures that would allow all Member States to collect surplus revenue from the energy sector and redistribute it to consumers who face exceptionally high energy prices,” he said.
Already questioned about the support announced in Portugal, Kadri Simson adds that he “shares the Portuguese Government’s objective of supporting vulnerable consumers”, although warning that it is “fundamental that the measures adopted are well targeted at the most needy and that they do not lead to an increase in the energy consumption".
Today, the European Commission will propose the creation of legal instruments for joint purchases of gas by the EU, but that should only go ahead in the spring of 2023, as well as a temporary mechanism to limit prices on the main European natural gas exchange and solidarity rules in the EU to make gas available to all Member States in an emergency, according to the draft proposals to which Lusa news agency had access.
Source Lusa
