The energy ministers of the European Union (EU) reached a general consensus this Wednesday in the Czech Republic to create a platform for joint gas purchases before the summer of 2023.
The European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simsontold the press that this platform will be presented next Tuesday and that more measures are needed to alleviate unsustainable gas prices, such as reducing the consumption of this fuel.
At their meeting in Prague, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said gas prices remain unsustainable and more measures are needed to alleviate the crisis, including the need to further reduce gas consumption.
“Russian pipeline flows have fallen below 10% and attacks on EU energy infrastructure further increase uncertainty. That is why the Commission is working to present its package of proposals on October 18. But the That doesn’t stop here, as we need to continue to develop our tools and adjust our approach as the situation evolves,” Simson said.
Putin at the international forum “Russian Energy Week”
Earlier in Moscow, at the “Russian Energy Week” international forum, President Vladimir Putin stated that his country is a reliable energy supplier and blamed the West for irregularities in the energy market. According to him, the solution to the crisis is in the hands of the European Union:
“European citizens are suffering. Their gas and electricity bills have tripled in a year. The population, just like in the Middle Ages, begins to stock up on firewood for the winter. What does Russia have to do with this? And They constantly try to blame their own mistakes on someone else, in this case Russia, when in fact, it’s their own fault.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, EU countries have been striving to consume less Russian energy, as Moscow uses the revenue to finance its war.
Due to severe supply cuts from Russia, the 27-country bloc is experiencing a huge increase in gas prices, almost 90% higher than a year ago.
