Between wanting to take action against Russia and maintaining consumer costs, the EU was faced with a dilemma.

Until now, the European Commission had mentioned a price cap only for Russian gas, fearing, like Germany, that a limitation of the price of all gas imports would push producers to prefer other destinations.

But fifteen Member States, including France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Poland, are calling for a general cap on the wholesale price of gas.

The European Commission now says it is ready to “examine” such a scenario on the European market, and must present proposals before an EU summit on Friday and a meeting of energy ministers on October 11 and 12.

“Such a cap on gas prices must be designed correctly in order to guarantee security of supply,” however, clarified Ursula von der Leyen before the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

“A first step towards a structural reform of the electricity market”

The German official has already indicated that the Commission is "ready to discuss a cap on the price of gas used to produce electricity", which would be "a first step towards a structural reform of the electricity” European.

“But we also have to look at gas prices (…) which concern industry, heating,” she continued.

“We will work with member states to reduce gas prices and limit their volatility, in order to limit the impact of price manipulation by Russia,” added the head of the community executive.

"More member countries are in favor of it and we are better prepared," she said, stressing that a cap on gas prices in general would be a "temporary solution" in an "exceptional period".

A Commission spokesman told reporters the proposal was still being worked on and would be detailed in a letter sent to EU leaders ahead of Friday's summit in Prague.



In a text voted on Wednesday, MEPs for their part demanded from the Commission “a tariff ceiling on gas imports” and “an immediate and complete embargo on Russian imports” of energy.

Germany, which was the country most dependent on Russian gas, has so far rejected the idea of ​​a price cap on gas imports.

But Berlin has been under pressure since the announcement last week of a 200 billion euro national plan to protect its economy from rising energy prices.

Accusing Germany of going it alone, some countries fear an advantage for German companies over their competitors from countries that do not have the means to finance such a “shield”.

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  • Economy

  • European Commission

  • Ursula von der Leyen

  • Energy

  • gas prices