PRAGUE: When the heads of state and government of the EU countries gather in Brussels in 14 days for a formal EU summit, new decisions may be made to alleviate the energy crisis.
At least that is the expectation of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S), who participated in an informal EU summit in Prague on Friday.
- We have a meeting in 14 days, and I expect that decisions can be made there. The goal is to bring down prices. Both for electricity and gas, because it is in both areas that Danish and European consumers are under pressure, says Mette Frederiksen.
It was expected in advance that the informal summit on Friday in Prague would only be a preparation for the formal summit in Brussels. The EU countries have long disagreed about the introduction of price caps on gas. Therefore, the EU Commission needs to gauge the mood before coming up with a concrete proposal for price caps.
- We have had some very interesting discussions, and now the EU Commission must work before we meet again in Brussels in two weeks, says Mette Frederiksen.
On Friday, the Danish Prime Minister signaled openness to discussing a price cap. But the idea is probably not the government's preferred solution to the energy crisis.
Like Germany and the Netherlands, Denmark is among the countries that fear either a large financial bill or problems for security of supply if price caps are introduced.
Now the question is whether the EU Commission will present a concrete proposal before the summit. If this happens, it will be understood that the heads of state and government at the EU summit itself will have to make a very specific decision on a price cap.
Complicated details
However, it can be a difficult exercise to delve into the complicated details of the energy market at a late night meeting with 27 heads of state and government.
At the same time, several countries are skeptical of the models that have been in play so far.
Therefore, some countries want to stick more towards a declaration of intent at the summit and then let the EU Commission wait to come up with a concrete proposal until after the summit. This will give more time for thorough consideration. And less publicity about any objections.
- Work must now continue based on the discussion that has taken place today. And of course I hope that we can take the next steps when we meet in Brussels in 14 days, says Mette Frederiksen.
She does not want to go into the question of whether Denmark would prefer to see the EU Commission wait to act until after the EU summit at the end of October.
- It must depend on how the work continues from here, says Mette Frederiksen.
/ritzau/
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