Von der Leyen announces a European plan to stop the price of gas

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, during a press conference at the Strategic Forum in Bled in Slovenia, announced a plan to put a stop to the enormous surge in the cost of energy in Europe. 

"Skyrocketing electricity prices are now highlighting, for various reasons, the

" which "was developed under completely different circumstances and for completely different purposes," said von der Leyen.

"That is why we are now working on

" she added.

The issue of the continuing surge in gas prices and the need for market reform will be discussed at

.

It is difficult, for the moment, to obtain a ceiling on the price of gas as requested by Italy even if, in these hours, Belgium also seems interested in the proposal.

Confirming the delicacy of the moment is the announcement of France that is preparing for rationing

.

"Unfortunately, we must prepare for the rationing of electricity to businesses", said the French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, speaking before the Congress of Medef, the Confindustria d'Oltralpe.

But the signals that today speak of an urgency for a European energy plan are different and come from all over Europe.

With regard to the so-called 'price cap' regarding gas,

.

As reported by some media today, however, there seems to be an opening on the part of Berlin.

A signal arrived in the last few hours at Palazzo Chigi directly from the Chancellery.

And that will have to be verified by the facts, during the summit of European energy ministers convened on 9 September.

On the gas price roof today, the Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten also said he was in favor, on Twitter he wrote that "gas prices in Europe must be urgently frozen", adding that the link between gas prices and electricity is man-made and needs to be reformed.

Another issue under discussion and on which it seems easier to reach a solution is that of the decoupling of renewable energies from the price of gas, a hypothesis that has already been examined several times over the past few years but which has never been applied to the opposition of various countries. .

Now, however, it may be time to reconsider considering, for example, that the production costs of hydroelectric plants are much lower than that of gas. 

"We need - said the president of the Commission -

", he said.

.

As had already happened with Covid, it is clear that only a response from the whole European bloc can favor a solution.

"

as landlord.

Pressure is mounting in EU capitals for the bloc to reform the energy market by breaking the link between electricity and soaring gas prices, which has significantly increased costs for businesses and households.

Czech Industry Minister Jozef Sikela said he expected draft proposals in time for the EU emergency energy council next week.

The reference price of electricity in Europe has risen ten times the 10-year average, in line with a 14-fold increase in the cost of gas, amid fears of shortages for this winter. 

In recent days, the

And Austria, traditionally a liberal market country, sided with the interventionists on Sunday.

"We must not allow Putin to decide the price of electricity in Europe every day," Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said Sunday after an emergency meeting on energy prices.

In Belgium, Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten said on Twitter on Sunday that the European energy market "is failing and urgently needs reform," stressing that electricity was being sold at record prices even when it could be produced cheaply. market like