EU ministers seek to extend measures to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis

Brussels, 19 December (CTK correspondent) – EU energy ministers are seeking to reach an agreement in Brussels today on extending three measures adopted last year in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The aim is to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis, in particular by reducing high energy prices and improving the security of gas supplies. The plan to extend the relevant regulations by a year is justified by the fact that risks to the security of gas supplies in the EU persist. The Czech Republic is represented at the meeting by Industry Minister Jozef Síkela.

Most emergency energy measures were adopted last autumn during the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. At today’s meeting, ministers are revisiting three of them. The first is so-called enhanced solidarity, meaning the redistribution of gas if a shortage occurs in one of the member states, Síkela said. The second measure concerns faster deployment of renewable energy, while the third protects EU citizens and the economy from excessively high prices.

„These three measures are intended to help us be better prepared for the coming winter and also strengthen our energy resilience,“ the Czech minister said.

„We have done a great deal, but there is still a long way to go, because the availability of energy at affordable prices is absolutely crucial for European households and for the competitiveness of European economies,“ Síkela added.

EU energy ministers will seek a political agreement on extending the validity of these regulations until 31 December 2024. However, any agreement reached at today’s ministerial meeting will not be final; the member states still have to confirm it in a so-called written procedure.