“We are looking for peace, I’m really looking for it, the other European leaders, especially the French and Germans, are looking for it. You have had talks with Putin and I will have talks. This is the most important thing to keep in mind: we are not at war because we are following a destiny of war, we want above all peace ». So did Prime Minister Mario Draghi after the European Council in Brussels. Specifically, however, the EU Council was mainly about energy, “but there was also talk about Covid, the EU’s position towards Ukraine” and other topics. Firstly, there was no agreement among the 27 on the gas price cap and on the unbundling of the electricity price from the gas price. Despite the lack of a final agreement, the Italian Prime Minister nevertheless assured at the press conference that “progress has been made”. In fact, Italy, along with Spain, Greece and Portugal, have attempted to include this resolution in the summit conclusions, while other countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, have instead relied on the need to maintain free market conditions. On the subject of energy supply, Draghi stressed that the disagreements between different countries depend very much on the respective sources of energy supply, which differ from state to state. Some are dependent on coal, oil and gas, including Italy, others on coal and gas, and still others who are less dependent on these sources because they rely on nuclear power. Therefore, the Prime Minister specified: “The discussion is not easy, but the most important thing was to achieve a result of this discussion that was not divisive, and in a sense we were satisfied.”
Draghi: “Discussion postponed to May, meanwhile we do not fear any cuts in delivery”
In fact, it was decided that the Commission will discuss all options with the stakeholders, ie the big oil and electricity companies and energy distributors. Draghi then announced that there will soon be “a council of energy ministers and there will be proposals for May”. In parallel, we will continue to discuss at European level the “European Commission’s proposal on the possibility of separating electricity pricing from gas pricing, which is another aspect for which we have to wait for a report from the European regulator”. . In addition, progress has been made on the issue of joint gas purchasing and storage, but at the moment there is no question of stopping gas and oil imports from Moscow. In fact, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz noted, the measure would plunge Europe into recession. All 27 leaders agreed to reject the Kremlinimposed condition of paying for supplies in rubles as this option would constitute “a breach of contract” and in any case “there is no fear of cuts in supplies”.
The purchase of two new regasifiers for Italy
Commenting on the delivery of 15 billion cubic meters of LPG from the United States to Europe, Prime Minister Draghi said: “Today we have three regasification plants in operation in Italy. Minister Ciongolani has directed Snam to buy two more floating regasifiers, not on the ground, and we hope to take our share from the United States ». And the Prime Minister specified: “There are hopes for rapid diversification. There is a feeling that the progression will be substantial and very rapid for the first few sets, and gradually it gets harder and harder. But there is a sense of cooperation, where progress will be very fast and within a few weeks we will be able to present the country with a detailed diversification plan ».
