EU energy ministers have agreed in Brussels on a number of first measures to reduce energy bills for citizens and households. These include mandatory cuts in electricity consumption, levies on the high profits of energy companies so that they can be recycled to their customers and a ‘solidarity contribution’ from companies that generate electricity using fossil fuels.
“We have taken a big step today with a package of measures that should bring peace to the energy market,” said Minister Rob Jetten (Climate and Energy). “The Netherlands has supported the important emergency measures: a 15 percent savings target on electricity and returning the extra profits that fossil and electricity producers are now making to households with high energy bills.”
The Netherlands and the other EU countries must now elaborate the measures nationally. ,,We got this out of the ground in Europe in record time. The energy crisis is primarily a European problem, so it must also be solved here in Europe,” says Jetten.
Consultation is not ready yet
The ministers are still discussing possible other measures to lower energy prices. A majority of the 27 member states want a price cap for gas, but that plan is causing great division. The Netherlands and Germany, among others, are against this. Diplomats say this heated issue is left to EU leaders, who will meet in Prague next week.
Watch our videos about rising gas prices here:
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