Slovenian Prime Minister calls on the European Commission to do more in the field of energy – EURACTIV.com
The European Commission should take more decisive measures to combat high energy prices, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said in a debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday (December 13).
Golob’s participation in the plenary debate follows the European Parliament’s recent decision to invite the prime ministers or presidents of the member states to discuss the current situation of the EU and the priorities of their countries.
“It is clear to everyone that dependence on a single energy source has led to the use of Russian gas as a weapon,” Golob said, stressing that this week is crucial for energy action.
An extraordinary session of the Council devoted to energy is scheduled for Tuesday, and on Thursday (December 15) there will be a European Council, where energy will be one of the main priorities to be discussed by the heads of state.
According to the Slovenian Prime Minister, the member states managed to provide enough energy with reduced demand, the opening of gas pipelines and new sources.
However, he believes that this is “not enough to control energy prices”.
Regulatory measures for the bloc are necessary, urged Golob and expressed his disappointment with the measures proposed by the European Commission so far, especially regarding the limitation of gas prices.
“I cannot say that I am satisfied with what the Commission has prepared. It won’t work. That’s not enough. We will have to be more determined to reduce volatility in the markets,” he said.
Golob hopes that at Tuesday’s meeting, the energy ministers will be able to make a joint decision on how to show unity “not to the residents, but to the markets”.
EU energy ministers discuss the proposal for a Council regulation on a temporary gas market correction mechanism.
“We need to introduce regulatory changes to market mechanisms, because the internal energy market at the moment […] it doesn’t work,” Golob said.
According to him, the green transition is the only way to energy independence.
“If we combine the wind potential of the north with the solar potential of the south and add hydro to the mix, we will succeed,” he said.
[Edited by Nathalie Weatherald/Alice Taylor]