Von der Leyen: EU Must Coordinate Response to Expensive Energy
The Member States of the European Union should coordinate their response to rising energy prices, which have increased fossil fuel costs by 22bn Euros since the start of the war with Iran, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
She added that gas storage filling should be harmonized to prevent countries from entering the market simultaneously. The Commission also aims to coordinate the release of oil reserves and ensure that emergency measures taken by individual states do not distort the single market.
The European Commission plans to present proposals on energy price measures on 22 April. These will then be discussed by EU leaders at an informal summit.
Before the summer, von der Leyen plans to present an electrification strategy and stressed the need for systemic solutions to reduce energy prices. She also warned that Europe is paying a high price for its dependence on fossil fuels, which she believes will remain the most expensive energy option for years. At the same time, she described decarbonization as crucial and increasingly important.