The Socialists and Democrats want to know what the European Commission’s plans are to stop the EU’s energy dependency and how we will achieve a fully functional EU energy market. S&Ds expect strong and concrete actions in the future tool box to be released next week by the Commission. The S&D Group also initiated the oral question adopted today by the committee on industry, research and energy (ITRE) and that will be tabled on behalf of ITRE. According to them, it is imperative the EU adopts a fast-tracking legislation that imposes minimum filling obligations for gas storage in all member states.
Mohammed Chahim MEP, S&D vice-president responsible for the energy aspects of the Green Deal, said:
“We cannot wait until next winter. The war in Ukraine means we must set-up a clear plan on how to diversify our energy sources and move faster to make the Green Deal a reality when it comes to energy. The issue of high-energy prices has hit all European households, especially the most vulnerable ones like those on low incomes. Many small and medium enterprises either have had to close doors or are struggling to survive. Bigger companies have serious problems on world markets with the competitiveness of their products.
Our Group has long been advocating a common European approach and our group expects answers in plenary, including on attempts on market manipulation, or false speculations regarding energy supplies. The time for the Commission to draft papers and strategies is long gone, now is the time to act.”
Dan Nica MEP, S&D spokesperson in the European Parliament’s committee on industry, research and energy, said:
“I am sorry I have to say it today, but it is not the Russian invasion in Ukraine that brought our energy vulnerability to light; this was already painfully clear, but we chose to close our eyes. It shows once more how dangerous it is to only rely on a few and unreliable energy suppliers; not even mentioning the allegations over market manipulation. This is a market failure and we need to fix it. Our group has long been asking for minimum filling obligations of gas storage and common strategic reserves at an EU level to protect us from energy price volatility. What will we tell our citizens if this autumn the gas reserves are low and the price of energy is killing businesses and becomes unbearable for European households? The EU’s gas storage was only 75% full at the beginning of the cold season; it has now decreased to 28% and is predicted to descend to 18% by April. I am particularly worried that we will come to the end of this winter with depleted gas reserves. Our group expects a detailed roadmap to find alternatives to our energy dependency and end reliance on Russia.
“This means we have to immediately start building the necessary infrastructure and also make sure the member states are as much as possible interconnected in order for energy to be efficiently distributed throughout the EU. But, this would be only half the journey to end energy dependency. We need to move even faster than before to energy from renewables, to strengthen the EU energy mix and to further strengthen the green transition. We have to go all the way to make sure a really functioning and resilient energy market exists in the EU.”
