Energy prices, a postponed solution
Europe is on alert because of the rise in energy prices.
Roxana Vasile, 07.10.2021, 13:50
Record electricity prices continue to be reported in Europe, and both the domestic and industrial consumers fear that, in the coming winter, they might have to pay huge bills — if they can afford. That is why the Community institutions are trying to reach a common solution for all the EU member states, which is not at all simple, as always happens when extremely sensitive issues are at stake. Gathered in Slovenia for an informal Council meeting, the European leaders have failed to agree on a response to the accelerating price rise. France and Spain, for instance, are calling for an in-depth reform, Romania wants an urgent solution, while other states are calling for patience.
Attending the meeting, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said: ʺWe had a first discussion about energy prices, especially electricity prices, and we agreed to speed up all efforts. The Commission has promised, and we expect it to respect its promise, to come with an approach, with solutions in one week at the most, because we cannot go through the winter season with rising prices.”
The energy price hike was also tackled in the European Parliament, where the representatives of the European Commission and the European Council were heard. Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson of Estonia provided the solution that by 2030, in Europe, 65% of electricity production should come from renewable sources. But what will people do until then? MEPs have accused that the measures to eliminate fossil fuels did not take into account the fact that there are insufficient renewable sources, that nuclear energy has been marginalized and that Europe is blackmailed by Russia in relation to energy. Almost all political groups in the EP have called for a single European energy market and the purchase of gas through a common scheme. There was also the opinion that prices should be capped.
MEPs also called for harsh measures against energy suppliers’ speculation. In Romania, the huge rise in electricity and gas prices coincided with the complete liberalization, from July 1, of the energy market and many companies took advantage of the situation. Heard in the parliamentary commission that investigates the causes of very high prices, the president of the National Authority for Consumer Protection, Claudiu Dolot, said that, in September, more than 30 companies broke the law, registering the worst irregularities regarding non-compliance with contractual clauses. (LS)
