PRAGUE (Reuters) – The Czech Republic, which holds the six-month European Council presidency, will propose holding an extraordinary meeting of energy ministers as soon as possible to discuss soaring prices, said Friday the Minister of Industry, Jozef Sikela.
All member countries of the Union are preparing for a very sharp increase in gas and electricity bills in the coming months due to the fallout from the war in Ukraine and European sanctions against Russia, which are disrupting their electricity supply. gas, to the point for some of creating a risk of shortage this winter.
“We are in an energy war with Russia and this affects the whole of the EU. In agreement with the European Commission and Prime Minister Petr Fiala, I will propose to convene an extraordinary meeting of the Council of EU energy at the earliest possible date,” he said on Twitter.
The Czech EU Presidency had already scheduled the October meeting of energy ministers.
The European Commission recently declared that it was “urgently” evaluating the various possibilities for capping gas prices, without giving any further details on the form such an initiative could take.
Brussels has planned to consult the member countries on the subject and to present proposals in the autumn if necessary.
(Report Robert Muller, French version Marc Angrand, edited by Kate Entringer)
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