Put a cap on energy prices, but also limit the increase in food prices, the Commission wants the Commission in its proposals ahead of the European Council Summit, Commission Vice-President Maros Sefchowitz said at a joint press conference with French State Secretary for European Affairs Clement Bonne after the European Union's General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.
Asked whether there will be a Commission proposal for a common gas market, Sefchowitz recalled that the proposals will be adopted on Wednesday by the College of Commissioners. The aim, he noted, is that given the great turbulence in gas and energy prices, the best possible options should be presented as a guide for the discussion of the leaders, who will also give the political direction.
The basic principle of this approach, he noted, is to improve energy security, and in this context the proposal for an obligation for the fullness of gas storage facilities to be at 90% before each winter period, so that there is more resilience in the event of geopolitical crisis. We need "cooperation, coordination and not competition between us."
Referring to the possibility of new sanctions, Bon noted that the agreement among the 27, as conveyed by the French President, was that if Russia did not show a willingness to promote peace, sanctions should be strengthened. Given this principle, he assessed, given that what we are seeing today is an increase in Russia's attacks, there is a possibility of additional sanctions.
In his statements at the press conference, Mr. Shevchovych informed that the Commission will make proposals on three issues, in particular on support for refugees from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, security of food supply and food prices, and energy security.
The Vice-President of the Commission said that so far 3.4 million refugees, mostly women and children, have fled Ukraine to escape the war. This is a flow of refugees with "unprecedented speed and scale," he noted, adding that a child arrives in the EU from Ukraine every second.
The Commission's proposals on refugees, he added, include increasing the involvement of FRONTEX Europol and the European Asylum Support Office, as well as making it easier for Member States to use funds to support refugees. Sefchowitz said that proposals will be put forward for measures to contain food prices and limit disruptions in production chains, and more generally for the resilience and autonomy of food production systems in the EU.
In relation to energy, the Vice-President of the Commission pointed out that in addition to the proposals on EU energy security, there will be proposals concerning EU dependencies and raw materials for industry.
Speaking on behalf of the French Presidency, Clement Bonne said that the European Affairs Ministers were still preparing the discussion that the leaders will have on the upcoming Summit with China on 1 April.
He said the summit would be an opportunity for the EU to ask China to commit to working to restore peace.
The leaders will also discuss the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and how to prevent Russia from exploiting the instability in the country.
Bon also referred to the discussion on the continuation of the process of the Conference on the Future of Europe after the plenary sessions on 25 26 March, 8 9 April and 29 30 April.
Asked about indications that Bulgaria and North Macedonia are close to reaching an agreement which could lead to the lifting of Sofia's veto on the opening of accession negotiations for Skopje, Mr. Bon confined himself to saying that there are positive signs, but added that it would be premature to say anything more in terms of dates and whether North Macedonia's accession talks could start before the end of the French Presidency in July.
Source: CNA
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