When the EU summit begins in Brussels on Thursday, a series of new proposals are on the table about how the Union should tackle the energy crisis.
The member countries' heads of state and government will, among other things, discuss the proposals that the EU Commission put forward on Tuesday regarding increased energy solidarity and EU-joint gas purchases, in order to pressure energy prices.
- Until now, the countries have outbid each other and in this way jacked up the prices.
The idea is that if you buy gas together instead, you can push prices down, much like you did with the vaccine during the pandemic, says David Boati, SVT's Brussels correspondent.
Iran's involvement in the war
In addition to the energy crisis, Russia's war in Ukraine must be discussed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is participating in the meeting via video link.
- Europe will promise continued support, both financially and militarily, says David Boati and continues:
One issue that has surfaced in the discussions about the Ukraine war is Iran's involvement in the war.
- It has been known for a long time that Russia uses Iranian drones in Ukraine and now the EU claims to have evidence that Iran is more involved than that.
If Iran becomes more involved in this conflict, it is feared that the war will spread geographically and escalate further.
Here, the EU wants to mark clearly and quickly.
Ulf Kristersson, who is participating in a summit for the first time, has individual talks scheduled with a number of heads of state and government, including NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Kristersson and Stoltenberg are holding a joint press conference on Thursday morning at 9.45am.