22/12/2022 (Agence Europe) – EU Member States formally adopted by written procedure on Thursday 22 December the EU Council Regulation that establishes the possibility of capping wholesale gas prices in case of excessive increases that do not reflect world market developments (‘market correction mechanism’ - see EUROPE 13087/1, 13090/3). Hungary voted against, while Austria and the Netherlands abstained. The latter countries, as well as Germany, accompanied their vote with a short statement. They also adopted (again by written procedure) the EU Council Regulation aimed at urgently accelerating the permitting procedures for solar equipment and heat pumps in order to contribute to the EU’s efforts to tackle the energy crisis (see EUROPE 13088/5). As both texts are based on Article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU), the European Parliament has only had a consultative role on these dossiers. See statements by the Netherlands and Germany: https://aeur.eu/f/4rv (DG)