The energy crisis is accelerating plans for the European Union to set caps on gas prices to curb runaway inflation that threatens to push half of Europe into recession.
The Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, assured this Sunday that he will work in the coming weeks to get the European Union (EU) to agree "as quickly as possible" to introduce a limit on the price of gas to deal with the increase in prices. energetic. Along similar lines, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said his government must address rising energy prices "with the utmost urgency" because of the risks of a "giant impact" on the economy.
In an interview with Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Lindner said swift action is required or "inflation will be driven more and more by an electricity crisis." The energy market must be revised so that prices are no longer linked to increasingly expensive gas, which generates billions of euros in profits for operators of wind, solar and coal installations “at the expense of consumers” , he added.
In Belgium, in an interview with the Flemish channel VRT, De Croo assured that he will convene his ministers and regional authorities next Wednesday to assess different measures, although local media indicate that immediate decisions are not expected. The Prime Minister of Belgium –from the liberal Flemish Open-VLD party– referred to several options, including the European cap on gas that he has defended at summits with the rest of European leaders. “That can only be done in agreement with other European countries. I note that Germany is beginning to understand that this is the only possible solution. In the coming weeks, I will work with other countries to get it up and running as quickly as possible,” he stated.
A key moment for the Twenty-seven to discuss this possible European limit on the price of gas will be the extraordinary meeting of energy ministers that the Czech presidency of the EU will convene, although without a specific date.
In another interview with the RTL chain, the Belgian Minister of Energy, the Flemish environmentalist Tinne Van de Straeten, supported the Prime Minister's opinion and defended that a gas cap could "immediately" alleviate the bill of Belgian households by 700 euros per year. .
In addition to this idea, the Belgian authorities are also considering introducing a tax on the extraordinary profits of energy companies, an option that De Croo's Executive has been evaluating for weeks but that still divides the coalition parties.
Also from Germany, Economy Minister Robert Habeck reported this Sunday that gas storage facilities are being filled faster than expected despite uncertainty about supply, and predicted that the target for October to be reached 85% capacity should already be effective early next month.
In France, details were being finalized to increase imports of Algerian gas by up to 50%. French utility company Engie SA negotiates a new deal following President Emmanuel Macron's official visit to Algeria.
