András Gyürk, MEP of ruling Fidesz, said on Tuesday that clear action was needed by Brussels against high energy prices and gas market speculation.
Gyürk said he had submitted written questions to the European Commission on behalf of the Fidesz group, adding that the EC had done nothing when gas transits through Ukraine were stopped at the beginning of the year.
He said that before starting its term, the EC led by Ursula von der Leyen had promised to reduce energy prices, yet in the past three months European gas prices have increased by around 20 percent. He added that despite the promises from Brussels, the market price of natural gas had increased by one-fifth since November.
“The bureaucrats watched idly as 15 billion cubic metres of natural gas was lost from the European market after the Ukraine gas transits stopped,” he said. “They also failed to act against the gas market speculation that resulted in increased prices when gas storage facilities were filled in the summer,” he added. “This is incomprehensible and it is the reason why we have turned to the European Commission with written questions,” he said.
“We expect concrete practical steps to be planned by the European Commission against speculation that makes summer gas acquisitions expensive,” he said. “Additionally, we expect information from Brussels concerning whether they plan to offer financial and technical support to East European countries affected negatively by the stoppage of Ukraine gas transits,” he added.
Reducing energy prices is crucial to ensuring economic competitiveness and the welfare of citizens, Gyürk said.
