It took many hours of debate and a lunch break before the EU's heads of state and government agreed on conclusions regarding the record-high energy prices in Europe.
Opinions were divided beforehand. And so it was perhaps not surprising that the conclusions ended up being a bit superficial and thus also a bit of a mess for several countries.
A number of countries to the south have been very interested in the subject. And prior to the meeting, Spain had floated the idea that the EU should consider buying gas together to save money.
But the conclusions ultimately repeated the EU Commission's message from earlier this month: Member states must take action themselves.
Must use previously presented tools
In the conclusions, the leaders suggest that the member states should make use of the tools that the EU Commission presented earlier this month.
In the toolbox, the EU Commission has predominantly proposed national measures such as support for those hardest hit. In other words, there should be no major intervention at EU level.
EU leaders are calling on member states to "make the best possible use of the toolbox". Here they refer to the fact that it should be used to make life easier for vulnerable consumers and companies in the short term. This could be done, for example, by offering tax exemptions.
In addition, the medium and long term should be considered to ensure that record-high energy prices do not suddenly occur again.
Hungary: Too much focus on green transition
Some countries, including Hungary, entered the discussions with the view that the high energy prices are due to too much focus on green transition.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, tried to refute this along the way. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) also warned that it would be "completely wrong" to scale back climate ambitions.
More renewable energy is the solution, she said before the meeting. In addition, Europe should not be dependent on Russia to keep warm during the winter, she believes.
- Fundamentally, I do not believe that we should use Russian gas. It is a problem that Europe is dependent on Russia when it comes to energy.
- I think the crisis reveals how dangerous it is when we depend on others, says Mette Frederiksen.
Russia is ready with long-term gas agreements
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that it is a good idea for Europe to look towards Russia and the state gas company Gazprom if it wants to stay warm.
Here, according to the Tass news agency, he said that European companies that buy gas from Gazprom on long-term contracts get it four times cheaper than if they buy it from other gas markets.
Several countries have criticized Russia's actions on the gas market, while high energy prices persist. But there is no reason for that, Putin believes.
Although several countries may not have gotten what they wanted at the summit, they were promised that the issue would not be forgotten. EU energy ministers are to discuss it further as early as Tuesday next week. And at the EU summit in December, it will be on the agenda again.
Ritzau
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