Roof at the price of gas, Michel against von der Leyen: everything stopped- Corriere.it

“A clear framework for further action”. This is what the EU leaders asked in the conclusions of the European Council of 20 and 21 October and this urges the President of the European Council, Charles Michel,n a letter to the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen, sent on Monday evening and inspected by the Courier. The chairman entered with a straight leg and recalled the reference to ‘concrete decisions’ to be taken’ urgently ‘including’ a temporary dynamic price corridor on natural gas transactions, the rapid authorization procedure, the mobilization of relevant instruments at national level and Community “, indicated in paragraph 18 in addition to the reform of the electricity market mentioned in point 20.

Influence on long-term contracts

«To make progress and obtain results» at the Energy Council on 24 October «we need legislative proposals to be promptly presented by the Commission to integrate the package of 18 October» writes Michel. “These additional measures – he explains – should be presented as soon as possible, before the Energy Council” he urges. And he asks to share with him “the timetable foreseen for the measures that must be proposed”. What has emerged from the discussions of recent days is a substantial stalemate because the EU countries remain divided. Germany remains opposed to a dynamic gas price cap and the Commission continues to show skepticism about this measure as it emerged during a panel discussion with some stakeholders on Monday. Reuters reports, citing two sources, that the Commission said during the round table that “it is not possible to create a ceiling for the price of gas that at the same time does not affect long-term contracts or the security of supply”.

The delay of Europe

In addition, the Commission reiterates that the approach is in two phases and therefore that the proposal on the price cap (in the regulation of October 18, article 23 indicates the principles with the stakes for its application but not the mechanism) cannot be scheduled. until there is “agreement on the principles” before “going on with the details”. However, the Member States, which are asking for the cap – there are at least a dozen, including Italy, Belgium and Greece, amply sufficient for a blocking minority – before agreeing on other measures such as joint purchases and solidarity, they want to understand what the ceiling will be like. . From the second revision of the regulation circulated by the Czech presidency on Tuesday, viewed by Corriere, it emerges that there is still no agreement in sight. Prague asks the delegations of the Member States “In light of the seminar on possible interventions on gas markets linked to the market correction mechanism held on November 7 (the one on stakeholders), to provide indications on the next steps relating to articles 23, 24 and 25 on the market correction mechanism and on the allocation mechanism “. Prime Minister Draghi himself, first at the informal European Council in Prague on 7 October and then in the formal one in Brussels at the end of October, had been very tough with the EU Commission and had criticized the procrastination: “Seven months late – he said – there cost a recession. ” Now there is a risk that even at the Energy Council of 24 November it will not reach an agreement.