European Commission Vice-President with responsibility for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič and Energy and Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete strongly argued at a press briefing following the informal session of the Energy Council in Tallinn on Wednesday 20 September for an end to regulated energy prices in some member states.
The proposal tabled by the Commission as part of the clean energy and electricity market redesign package that was at the heart of the ministerial debate is “very clear”, Cañete said, stating: “We want to eliminate regulated prices and their costs (because) we believe that competition on the market and market rules will lower prices for consumers and bring better products and services”.
“Some governments still support regulated prices, others fully back the Commission proposal. It will be for the (Estonian) Presidency to find a compromise. In the negotiations with the Council and the European Parliament, we will act as an honest broker and we’ll see what happens”, he added. “We are working for a competitive, interconnected and integrated market, shaped for proactive consumers”, he said.
“I think that very often that regulated prices are raised by the representatives of the member states as the only or best solution to fight against energy poverty or to help those in socially difficult situations not to pay too much for energy. Our philosophy is a little bit different because we believe that we should really restore the market signals to bring the market dynamics into the energy sector”, stated Šefčovič.
“We also are fully aware that we need to be socially very conscious but we could prefer to give targeted assistance to those really need it, not to subsidise energy for those who want to heat swimming pools but really those who need to pay their monthly bills and have problem to do so”, he made clear. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)