"The EU is growing, it is becoming more and more important, it is becoming that institution that all EU countries look to as an institution capable of giving them stability and security", said Prime Minister Mario Draghi at a press conference in Brussels.
"In the euro area, mainly due to energy prices and inflation, forecasts are for a slowdown in all countries. We are committed to protecting and supporting the purchasing power of Italians" Draghi said.
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"There was talk of energy, what to do for such high prices. Italy, for storage, is doing very well and dependence on Russian gas, which was 40% last year, is now at 25%. : the measures we have put in place are starting to give results ".
We must "act immediately on energy prices because it is happening that from inflation that essentially depended on energy now also depends on other things. These increases spread and become increases in other goods", added Draghi.
"There is a lot of awareness - added the president - with respect to the seriousness of the situation" on energy.
"There has been a lot of talk about coordination and solidarity, which of course there must be and there must also be an answer to control the price of gas. The objection to the price cap is the fear that Russia will cut back supplies in response. , but by now in Germany we are at 50% of the flow. Putin collects the same figures and the EU has immense difficulties ".
"On energy prices, countries are very hesitant to act, I asked for an extraordinary Council on energy in July but I was pointed out that we do not yet have a study to discuss. Here, now in the final resolution the Council invites the Commission to produce this study by September, to then discuss it in the October Council ".
"The measures that are being considered" in Italy "ensure that there is no emergency during the winter".
Prime Minister Mario Draghi said this according to which "the picture, thanks to the search for other suppliers, sees Italy in a good position".
"We have talked about a relief mechanism for those most affected by the sanctions. There are many asymmetries", regarding military commitment, refugee flows or energies, explains Draghi.
"But they are not one-sided asymmetries, we are not the only ones affected by them", he adds.
"It is my intention to convene a meeting with the social partners as soon as possible, 10, 15 days at the most", said the premier, explaining that supporting the purchasing power of Italians "is essential for many aspects, one of which is social peace ".
If there were new actions by Moscow, the European Council is open to the hypothesis of an extraordinary council.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi said this at a press conference.
"It was explicitly said: we will not let two and a half months go by without doing anything in case other things happen on the energy front," he said.