European Union leaders struggled Friday to bridge significant differences over a natural gas price cap as winter approaches and Russia's war in Ukraine fuels a major energy crisis, driving up prices for consumers and businesses.The price cap is one of several measures the 27-nation bloc is preparing to contain an energy crisis in Europe that some fear could lead to rolling blackouts, factory shutdowns and a deep recession over the winter in economies already weakened by the coronavirus pandemic.Russia has reduced or cut off natural gas supplies to 13 EU member nations as European governments bolster their support for Ukraine in the form of weapons, money, aid and sanctions on Moscow.
The potential for shortages has led to surging gas and electricity prices that could climb higher as demand peaks during the cold months, AP reported.Standing in the way of an agreement was the simple fact that each member country depends on different energy sources and suppliers, and they&re struggling to see eye-to-eye on the best way ahead.Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins summed up the challenge for the EU as it considers a possible gas-price ceiling.A price cap on gas, if that could be achieved, would be grand — with the caveat that we cannot endanger security of supply,& Karins said.
&So we cannot set the price so that no one would sell gas into Europe.Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said he hoped the &last hurdles& to a price cap would be overcome at the meeting, but also that leader should agree on a joint path of action to send two important messages.One to the energy markets, to make it clear we no longer accept these prices, we will not continue to pay this market manipulation.
Secondly, an important signal to our populations, to our companies, that we are going to tackle the problem at the root,& he said.In a choreographed moment, French President Emmanuel Macron, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz entered Prague Castle together on foot, walking past a small but noisy crowd of pro-Ukraine demonstrators.A group of 15 member countries has urged the EU's executive branch, the European Commission, to propose a cap on gas prices as soon as possible, but the idea has not secured unanimous support, with Germany notably blocking.For now, the European Commission says, Europe's gas storage capacity stands at about 90%, even as Russian gas supplies to the EU declined by 37% between January and August, with the United States and Norway stepping in to provide liquefied natural gas.
But those replacement supplies have not been cheap.The EU agreed to a new package of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, hitting trade, notably in the tech sector, slapping travel bans and asset freezes on 30 more officials, and targeting seven organizations.
But the bloc is running out of economic ammunition to punish Russia with.We have to decrease the prices of energy.
But it is an economic issue as much as a security issue,& EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
&Energy is becoming the most important geostrategic issue today, related with the war, but also with the balance of power in the world.The post EU leaders struggle to bridge gas price cap divide first appeared on Ariana News.