Portugal’s protest takes effect. EU “softens” gas saving plan
The emergency plan that the Commission outlined to reduce consumption in anticipation of the European gas cut by Russia, in the context of the Ukrainian war, “is being softened and relaxed by the Union’s bodies”.
Spain and Portugal are two of the countries that have most contested the executive executive’s initial proposal.
The information is released this Monday by E País, which says it has had access to the last regulation to be negotiated this week in Brussels.
the last proposal maintains the objective of a linear and generalized 15% cut in gas consumption between 1 August and 31 March 2023but introduces several exceptions and adjustments, to adapt as savings to the energy needs of each country.
For, advances the daily, the last proposal foresees that the Commission stops declaring the European alert state, as was foreseen in the original project, with the decision having to be published the publication status by the 27-members.
The European ministers with the energy portfolio have meeting scheduled for tomorrowThis is why the Czech Republic, which this semester chairs the Council of the EU, has been running marathons since last Wednesday to polish all the edges of the Commission’s proposal, says “El País”.
The objective is to reach a final text that can be approved by all the EU Governments, which tomorrow will be extraordinary in Brussels.
Diplomatic sources heard by the newspaper ascertain that an agreement will be possible to reach the molds, although the latest draft continues to raise some doubts among several Member States. The same sources say that the main objective is to ensure unity of the 27 vis-à-vis Moscow, otherwise Vladimir Putin manages to sow division within the EU.
The 15% gasoline savings in the project will not face the next Russian gas order, because of the gas surge through Ukraine.
Currently, Greece is connected to gas, the measure, on the grounds that it does not have European connections and that it is currently facing serious problems.
The Portuguese Government refuses to comment on this news advanced by the Spanish newspaper El País. ONE Renaissance A source from the executive says that he is in the process of being negotiated with the European Commission, and that he is not yet sent to comment.
The same source as as not yet finished.
[notícia atualizada às 18h09]