The 27 Member States of the European Union are calling on the Commission to consider imposing a ceiling on electricity import prices and whether this would be possible, while recognizing the need to complete the interconnection of gas and electricity to and the island states, according to the conclusions of the extraordinary session of the European Council which ended early on Tuesday afternoon.
In particular, in the chapter on the conclusions of the Energy Summit, in Article 27 (a), the European Council “invites the Commission to also explore with our international partners ways to reduce rising energy prices, including ceiling on import prices where needed “.
This measure is one of those presented as short-term priorities in the context of diversification of energy sources and routes. The measures and recommendations also include the use of the EU Energy Market Platform, which is open to the countries of the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighborhood, and urging the Council to move forward with the EU's external energy and recognition strategy. of the importance of local energy sources.
Paragraph 27 (d) makes specific reference to island states in the context of the need to “integrate and improve the interconnections of European gas and electricity networks through the investment and integration of infrastructure for existing and new projects, including LNG and future sustainable electricity interconnections, ready for the transport of hydrogen, throughout the European Union, including the island Member States “.
In the same paragraph, the 27 also call for the completion and improvement of interconnections and infrastructure “and the possibility of producing renewables, inter alia, on the basis of the forthcoming analysis of regulators and the current geopolitical framework, by exploiting the potential of the Iberian Peninsula to contribute to security.” 27 are still calling for the promotion of energy efficiency, and the acceleration of the development of renewable energy sources.
As the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, stated after the Summit, the EU also stressed the need for preparedness in the event of a power outage.
In her own statements, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen referred to the plans already being made through the REPowerEU program for diversification of energy sources, noting that LNG imports from sources other than Russia have doubled in the first quarter of the year compared to last year. as well as that the fullness of gas storage facilities is increased compared to the previous year.
The two heads of institutions also referred to the other issues of the second day of the Summit, with Mr. Michel noted that the 27 discussed with African Union President Maki Sal how Europe and Africa can work together to address the issue of food security, especially in support of African countries.
Regarding the debate on EU defense, Mr Michel noted that Member States should invest not only more but with better and more effective way, including through common markets, strengthening the industrial base of the defense sector and in particular the role of small and medium-sized enterprises.
He added that the forthcoming NATO Summit in Madrid at the end of June will be an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of cooperation between the two organizations.
Source: KYPE
