MEPs debate with European Commission and the Council on possible European solutions regarding the rise of energy prices, as gasprices surge because of high demand and low stocks in member states. Statement by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP,RO), rapporteur and extracts from the debate.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

energy union (T)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

consumers' protection (T)

SZYDŁO, Beata (ECR, PL)

BUŞOI, Cristian-Silviu (EPP, RO)

AUBRY, Manon (The Left, FR)

SIMSON, Kadri (EE, EC)

LOGAR, Anže (SI)

The rise of energy prices: statement by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), rapporteur and extracts from the debate

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/4376416/I211663Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, After steadily declining for more than a decade, energy prices are once again making headlines in Europe. Gas prices reached record breaking highs in October. Electricity wholesale prices surged by more than 200 percent in the first nine months of this year.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Market expectations indicate that this is a temporary situation, but gas prices will remain high throughout the winter and should gradually decrease from spring next year.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, The Commission will present next week a toolbox of measures member states can take in line with EU law, both short and medium term, providing targeted support to consumers, direct payments to those most at risk of energy poverty, cutting taxes, shifting charges to general taxation.

SOUNDBITE (English), LOGAR An&#382;e, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, The issue of increasing energy prices affect all European citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), LOGAR An&#382;e, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Some of it was expected in the light of economic recovery and the relaxation of travel restrictions. However, such a rebound steamed mainly from a surge in gas prices, more than 170 percent since the beginning of the year, while higher EU emission trading system prices had an impact. This was only secondary.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), We need short term solutions. Winter is around the corner and we know that it is clear that the surge in prices won't dissipate on its own. Moreover, we have seen that there have some abusive practices as well as an off balance of supply and demand.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), The European Commission must present a plan that means that states can act in a coordinated way when we have major stress on the energy market, making sure that we have a veritable Europe, European Union of energy and to purchase together, much like we did with vaccines and also make sure that we can distribute those resources when necessary.

SOUNDBITE (French), Christophe GRUDLER (Renew, FR), First of all, we need to reinforce the energy storage facilities which in many European Union countries are insufficient. This is the only way we can get through the winter because the current stocks are insufficient. Several countries have already used a part of their stocks to compensate the rising gas prices.

SOUNDBITE (French), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), We cannot accept once again that it's our most vulnerable citizens having to bear the burden. In Belgium, the increase in energy bill will be raising by a minimum of 100 euros per month for a household with two children. On top of that, if you add the indirect impact on price of other goods and services such as food and transport you'll will uderstand that the situation will rapidly become impossible for a modest income household.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Beata SZYD&#321;O (ECR, PL), This is partly due to the pricing of emissions and those decisions were taken in this house. The cause of the spike in prices is also Nord Stream. So let's be clear about it. I think we have to rethink our energy policy.

SOUNDBITE (French), Manon AUBRY (The Left, FR), The energy should be affordable for everybody but you've turned it into a product like any other that you can speculate on and make profit. Eating or heating should not be a luxury. They are fundamental rights and the Left group in the European Parliament suggests that we stop the hike in energy prices and the products of first necessity in the EU. We have to do everything to reduce the bils. We have to start by reducing taxes and have progressive increases. Learn from the lessons of your failures are. Leave those markets which conduct us to failure and give the permission to the member states to nationalise the energy sector and make sure that can control the prices.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cristian-Silviu BU&#350;OI (EPP, RO), EP ITRE Chair, An interesting idea, an the European Commmission should look closely on it is to have a coherent and armonized approch towards import of gas, including a common platform and common negociations with external suppliers and of courset he most dangerous and important is Gazprom.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cristian-Silviu BU&#350;OI (EPP, RO), EP ITRE Chair, When most of our energy will come from renewable sources we will see a stable situation, stable prices, not such fluctuations, not such unsure cost depending on fossil fuels and new exploitations, the availability of some of this fossil ressources, etc. Because when we will have mostly solar, wind, biomass and other clean technologies the situation will be much better and the energy price will be lower, but before going there we need to be very careful during the transition phase.