European Union seeks consensus for emergency measures

More than 87 billion euros is the astronomical amount that corresponds to the money paid by Europeans to the Russians since the start of the war in Ukraine six months ago. Today, they buy four times less gas from Russia, but pay ten times more for it. As Russia threatens to stop deliveries, the 27 States members want to anticipate. Meeting in Brussels (Belgium), European energy ministers said they were in favor of emergency measures to curb soaring prices on Friday 9 September.

Among the measures considered, one would aim to force countries to reduce their electricity consumption before a dreaded winter. “We will propose binding targets for reducing electricity consumption during peak hours“, said Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy. The Commission also wants to cap the revenues of nuclear and renewable energy operators, such as wind power, who sell their electricity at a price that is too high in relation to their production costs. The 27 States members will meet again next week, with the hope of reaching a consensual agreement that would guarantee the security of supplies.