After nine hours of disputes over measures to counteract high energy prices, EU countries agreed to buy gas together. “I am delighted that we will use our collective negotiating power,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after today’s summit. “Instead of breaking through each other and raising prices, we’re going to combine our demand.”
For pipeline gas, the EU represents around 75 percent of the market, von der Leyen said. “We have tremendous purchasing power.” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that energy dependence on Russia will end sooner than expected. He did not mention the year.
No agreement on price cap
At the same time, like French President Emmanuel Macron, he rejected Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s demand that future gas bills should be paid in rubles. Contracts were checked and payment was found to have been made in euros or dollars.
There was disagreement between the heads of state and government as to the scope of intervention in the free market. Spain in particular opted for more extensive measures. For example, Madrid wanted to separate the price of electricity from the price of gas as both are linked by a price mechanism in the EU. The price ceiling was also discussed, which is supported by, inter alia, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal. Countries such as Germany and the Netherlands reject such market intervention.