In parallel, in the energy debate in the EU, the idea of establishing a price cap on gas imports into the EU is gaining ground, an initiative supported by at least 15 countries and rejected by Germany.
The European Commission is in contact with Germany for the 200 billion euros announced by Berlin to subsidize domestic gas consumption and, without criticizing the plan of the first economy of the EU, Brussels has underlined its commitment to “preserve equal conditions in the single market”.
“If it is State aid, it has to be notified to the Commission to be evaluated,” the spokeswoman for Competition of the Community Executive declared at a press conference, Arianna Podesta. He has also insisted on the need to follow the established procedures, and has recalled that there is currently a legal framework with more “flexibilities” approved after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, the European Commission chaired by the German Ursula Von der Leyen He has avoided giving clues as to whether he will lash out at the German government for that show of financial muscle.
The spokeswoman limited herself to recalling a speech given by Von der Leyen last Saturday in Sofia, where the German politician participated in the inauguration of a gas interconnection between Greece and Bulgaria. “It is essential that we maintain equal conditions for all in the European Union, in the single market. And it is essential to avoid distortions,” the former German minister declared there.
One step further has gone the Commissioner for the Single Market, the French Thierry Bretonwho last Friday launched a series of messages on Twitter directly mentioning those 200 billion German aid, an amount close to Portugal’s GDP, and warning about the “monitoring” that Brussels will exercise over the single market.
I have taken note of Germany’s €200 billion plan to tackle #energy-price arises — which we will carefully review.
Two reactions on my part:
1. #vigilance on the “level playing field”
2. What room for manoeuvre for the other Member States? pic.twitter.com/nBzRKAqyTc
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) September 30, 2022
In parallel, in the energy debate in the EU, the idea of establish a price cap on gas imports into the EUan initiative supported by at least 15 countries and rejected by Germany, which prefers to pay high prices to compromise the security of gas supply.
Source: Eitb
I’m Tifany Hawkins, a professional journalist with years of experience in news reporting. I currently work for a prominent news website and write articles for 24NewsReporters as an author. My primary focus is on economy-related stories, though I am also experienced in several other areas of journalism.