The European Commission wanted to explore the issue of creating a mechanism for general gas purchases to replenish the strategic reserves of the European Union. It is noted that the issue will be submitted to the EU summit at the end of October, TASS reports with reference to the European diplomatic source.
The diplomat reported that the European Commission plans to submit a package of measures to combat the energy crisis. It will include short-term targets for energy consumer support, as well as allow to discuss European countries to create a mechanism for general gas purchases to replenish their strategic reserves. The discussion of these issues will be submitted to the EU summit, which will be held from October 21 to 22, 2021.
According to the diplomat, the overall mechanism for the purchase of gas and monitoring the gas reserves of the European Union must have a tool for tax balancing. “The acquisition of gas to replenish replenishment should be carried out in periods of reducing market prices,” the source clarified. At the same time, all recommendations of the European Commission do not go beyond the climate agreements of the EU on the transition to the economy with zero emissions of harmful substances by 2050.
It is noted that for the EU countries, the practice of imprisoning long-term contracts for pipeline gas supply at fixed prices from Russia, which was previously widespread, “not included in the tool kit”, which will be presented at the summit. According to the diplomat, the European Commission will not recommend EU members to return to this system. Long-term gas supply contracts, according to the European Commission, make it difficult to work the free European market. However, this does not prohibit the countries of the European Union independently enter into similar contracts with Russia or other suppliers. The final decision on the combination of used sources of energy will be taken by the Governments of the EU countries.
Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Lyien stated that the energy crisis in Europe arose due to the slow transition to the green energy. Wholesale gas prices increased almost twice as compared with last year, while renewable energy sources, according to her, in recent years fell. Von De Lyien promised that by 2030 the European Union invests a trillion euro in a steady energy.
Western countries in the energy crisis happened in Europe and the United States have previously accused Russia. The American congressman Michael McCall said that Moscow allegedly provoked a surge in gas prices through the restriction of supply to the European market, and urged the United States to introduce new sanctions against the North Stream-2 gas pipeline.