MEPs assess recent and proposed EU measures to protect European households and businesses from rising prices during the coming winter. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the disruption of Russian gas supplies has led to skyrocketing electricity prices and market volatility, leading the Commission and member states to consider new policy options such as capping prices or decoupling of gas and electricity prices.

debate

plenary session

energy union (T)

consumers' protection (T)

EU response to the increase in energy prices in Europe: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Mikul&#225;&#353; BEK, Minister for European Affairs, The dramatic rise in energy prices is directly affecting both European households and companies and is threatening the whole EU economy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mikul&#225;&#353; BEK, Minister for European Affairs, Over the last couple of months, several solutions have been proposed and some have even been implemented, both at European and national level. These include, amongst others, the emergency plan for filling gas reserves at 80 percent by 1st of November 2022 and the EU wide gas consumption reduction measures adopted by the Council on the 5th August 2022. As a matter of urgency, since these have not been sufficient to mitigate the crisis, further immediate implementable solutions are needed to protect our consumers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mikul&#225;&#353; BEK, Minister for European Affairs, Our ambition is to find agreement on the first emergency measures amongst the member states already before the cold season starts.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy, Gazprom just two weeks ago announced that supplies through Nord Stream would not resume until sanctions are lifted. And in this way, Russia has dropped the axe and have made it absolutely clear they are using energy as a weapon. It's the same time and much has been done this year to untie Europe from Russia by diversifying, reducing and investing.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy, Last week, President von der Leyen set out elements for a coordinated emergency intervention at EU level.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy, We will propose to reduce electricity demand to bring more balance to the market. In particular, we will propose a mandatory target for member states to reduce consumption in peak price hours.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy, We are proposing an EU wide limit to the remuneratation for low carbon technologies. In this way, they would receive only the difference between the cost of production and the cap. The rest would generate revenues for member states to support vulnerable consumers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy, Oil, gas and coal companies are also making huge, unexpected profits. So we are considering a solidarity contribution on these companies. The revenues should be put to good use, helping the vulnerable industry or reinvested in cleaner technologies

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy, While a gas price gap on Russian pipeline imports would further address the current manipulation of supplies and prices, more work is needed to assess the adverse effects for some member states. And we are also deepening our anlysis of how a horizontal cap on all gas import in Europe could work and its implications.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy, We are working intensely on our RepowerEU goals and on bringing their energy platform to the next stage. We kick started the preparation of a reform of the electricity market for early next and tomorrow this Parliament will have important votes on the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive.

SOUNDBITE (English), Esther de LANGE (EPP, NL), We need to ensure a winter of solidarity in Europe, asking those who profited excessively to help support those who suffer most help member states as provided for in the security of gas supply regulation. But solidarity and responsibility need to go hand in hand. You cannot keep blocking the needed interconnection between France and the Iberian Peninsula. You cannot ask your neighbours for gas while closing down perfectly safe nuclear power plants.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Dan NICA (S&amp;D, RO), We can't tell companies to restrict their activities until energy is cheaper and easily accessible. When those in the gas market in Amsterdam and elsewhere can trade in secret. Until we deal with those situations, until we can show solidarity in a difficult situation, the war has brought about. We can't tell those who are finding it difficult to pay their bills at home to take action.

SOUNDBITE (French), Val&#233;rie HAYER (Renew, FR), The energy giants are raking in extraordinary profits, 4 billion for ENI, 5 billion for Total, 11 billion for Shell as well. The time has come for them to show solidarity. These exorbitant profits need to go back to those who are most vulnerable,

SOUNDBITE (English), Ville NIINIST&#214; (Greens/EFA, FI), We can make this sort of crisis history by shifting to renewables and becoming energy independent and by investing to energy efficiency.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Zdzis&#322;aw KRASNOD&#280;BSKI (ECR, PL), When it comes to Russian gas, we should fight to have the total embargo on this gas. And Norway last remark. This is our partner who talks about European values, etc.. Now, in Norway, you have a great opportunity to show European solidarity and give up your income.