The EU and the Energy Question - Common Answers

Created: 09/15/2022, 09:07

By: Mike Schier

Ursula von der Leyen wants to skim off the sometimes disproportionate profits of energy companies across the EU.

A step in the right direction, comments Mike Schier.

© FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Marcus Sleep

Ursula von der Leyen wants to skim off the sometimes disproportionate profits of energy companies across the EU.

A step in the right direction, comments Mike Schier.

Munich – For a conservative politician, such a step would have been unthinkable weeks ago: Ursula von der Leyen wants to skim off the sometimes disproportionate profits of energy companies across the EU.

It could be complicated to implement, but the plan is still correct.

Because it's no longer just about the EU's solidarity with Ukraine, but also about solidarity within the EU.

If Vladimir Putin is to fail with his plan to destroy the cohesion of the EU, Brussels must protect the citizens from economic upheaval.

Energy crisis: Many EU countries have already created facts

Italy, Spain, Hungary and Great Britain: Some countries - by no means all governed by the left - have already established facts.

In Spain, on the other hand, public transport fares fell.

Other countries have so far been reluctant.

Without them, von der Leyen's advance will also end nowhere, because the decision ultimately lies with the Council of Member States.

After all, the President has increased the political pressure.

As with Corona, it is becoming increasingly difficult for individual countries to react to global crises.

The highly complex energy market has long been so networked that EU-wide solutions have to be found.

From der Leyen's speech on Wednesday there was only a small step.

Nuclear, Coal, Gas, Renewables.

Energy issues will keep Europe busy for a long time to come.

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A comment by Mike Schier