“We are going to propose a legislative framework that would oblige each country to fill its gas storage reserves to 90% before November 1, to be more resilient in the event of geopolitical developments or harsh winters,” Sefcovic announced after a meeting of Ministers for European Affairs of the Twenty-Seven.

The Commission's proposal, which will be unveiled on Wednesday and then submitted to the States, is part of the EU's objective to reduce its purchases of Russian gas by two thirds this year, by obtaining supplies well before next winter. from other sources.

In its "roadmap" of March 8 to reduce European dependence on hydrocarbons imported from Russia, Brussels mentioned this reserve target at 90%, but setting the deadline for September.

In early March, European stocks were 30% full.

The measure has broad consensus but "debates will continue so that we have uniform and reinforced storage rules", observed Tuesday the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, whose country exercises the half-yearly presidency of the EU. .

According to the Context site, the Commission will propose to set intermediate storage objectives for each State (for example for France: 31% at the beginning of May, 55% in July, 78% in September, etc.) with strict controls.

Countries lacking sufficient capacity will have to conclude agreements with storage operators from other States.

Brussels must also specify on Wednesday its project on future grouped purchases of gas, shared between Member States, which would make it possible to use "the enormous economic weight of Europe" to obtain better prices, added Maros Sefcovic

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels, March 16, 2022 Olivier HOSLET POOL / AFP / Archives

"A special working group will be in close contact with the States and the main players in the sector (...) We should cooperate, not compete with each other" on the international markets, he underlined, anticipating a strong support from the Twenty seven.

This coordination would help diversify EU supplies.

The Commission is already discussing with the main producing countries (Norway, United States, Qatar, Algeria).

The President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also met on Monday the bosses of major European energy groups (E.ON, Shell, Vattenfall, Eni, etc.), including the CEO of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, told AFP a European source.

"A simple first contact," reacted a spokesperson for the Commission.

Finally, "we are considering capping electricity and gas prices to mitigate 'price spikes' for consumers," Sefcovic said, noting that market volatility can "aggravate energy poverty" and " undermine the competitiveness of the industry".

The States remain strongly divided on a possible structural reform of the European electricity market, where wholesale prices are currently aligned with those of gas, and discussions remain difficult on possible measures affecting the retail market, including a possible price cap.

"The reduction of our dependencies is more consensus than the reform of our markets and the development of price control tools", recognized Clément Beaune.

However, "the idea that it will take a reform of the European electricity market, in particular to control final consumer prices, has gained ground in recent weeks in view of the increase in prices", a- he added.

© 2022 AFP