The heads of state and government of the European Union have reached an agreement in principle in the energy dispute. EU Council President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter on Friday morning that at their summit in Brussels they had agreed to “devise measures to curb energy prices for households and businesses”.
According to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64, SPD), the countries have agreed on joint gas purchases, some of which should be mandatory on a proposal from the European Commission.
No “random” fixed prices
“I think that’s good progress,” Scholz said in Brussels. In addition, the EU energy ministers will investigate extensively next Tuesday how price fluctuations can be prevented by speculation in the gas market. The goal is “that it is not impossible to get gas at arbitrarily set prices,” the chancellor continued.
“There are still many doubts” about whether a European cap on gas prices is possible, as in Spain and Portugal. Countries such as Germany and Denmark spoke out against it.
(AFP)