Today we met with our social partners at a challenging time for the world and for our European Union. It is a time of war. Russia is brutally attacking the people of Ukraine, and Ukraine is bravely defending itself.
And Russia’s war has unleashed high energy prices and put pressure on our families and businesses across the EU and beyond. This was the main topic of our summit today with the social partners.
The active participation of social partners will again be essential in facing today’s challenges, just like during COVID 19. Energy will be the focus of our European Council meeting tomorrow and Friday, and we have three goals: lowering prices, guaranteeing security of supply, and having a functioning single market with no distortion.
The question is, how do we achieve this?
We are not starting from scratch: the EU, along with our member states, has already taken measures on energy savings, on gas storage for the coming winter, and on some key issues we have taken decisions that need to be enforced. Joint purchases of energy resources, for instance. On others, especially on reducing energy prices, we have had many strategic discussions.
In fact, this topic has been at the top of the European Council’s agenda for a long time. Since March we have invited the Commission to come up with proposals to tackle high prices and address the energy crisis, and the Commission has now tabled its proposals. The time has come to take the bold decisions our citizens and businesses expect. There is one question, one important question: do we do it the European way, acting together in the common interest, or do we do it alone? We should avoid the temptation of national-only approaches to tackle this crisis, because this would be a huge mistake.
The national-only approach will not work, because it would endanger our single market, which benefits us all. It is our strongest asset. Jeopardising the single market means jeopardising the prosperity and the future of all member states, without exception. Tomorrow we will discuss, and I hope decide on, the options on the table.
First, negotiating with partners on security of supply and lower import prices. To keep gas imports on the same level, EU countries have spent much more in this new situation, and generated windfall profits for gas providers and for the respective countries. This imbalance between close partners and closely linked economies is not a good situation. This is common sense. I am sure, I am confident we can find a mutually satisfactory solution to this problem.
Second, we will discuss putting into action joint purchases of gas, because this will strengthen our collective bargaining power and ensure we don’t drive up prices by competing against each other.
Third, we will examine a workable solution on gas price caps, taking into account our energy supply. A significant number of member states are in favour of capping gas prices, and there are different options on the table. We need a clear way forward with clear deadlines.
Enfin, je voudrais ajouter que ce qui est en jeu dans le cadre de cette crise de l’énergie, c’est la robustesse du marché intérieur et la nécessité d’agir pour éviter tout risque de fragmentation de ce marché. Le marché intérieur est un atout absolument essentiel pour la prospérité et le progrès au niveau de l’Union européenne.
Le message est très clair: il y a une responsabilité politique qui repose sur les épaules de l’ensemble des dirigeants sur le plan européen et sur le plan national. Sommes-nous prêts à agir ensemble pour protéger l’avenir de ce projet européen?
Je compte sur la mobilisation, je compte sur le courage, afin que demain des pas en avant significatifs soient réalisés dans l’intérêt de l’ensemble des citoyens et des entreprises de l’Union européenne.
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