EU debates measures to make energy payable for consumers. Energy prices in preparation for the war and in the war in Ukraine are evident in the meantime. And as long as the war continues, the economic effects will exist and appear, but we are certainly discussing, in parallel, measures by which we will keep prices so that energy is still payable to the consumer, especially the vulnerable consumer.
These are also measures at the national level, and you know that these measures have been taken in our country and measures are already being prepared for the period after April 1, but we will also discuss European measures to keep energy prices at a level as acceptable. But yes, we need to be aware that this war has an impact on both our prices and our economies. What we want to do is keep these influences at a reasonable level and, at the same time, develop a more pronounced independence of the European economy.
“It is a very complicated period in which we are meeting here and it is obvious that the most awaited topic, the central topic of these discussions, will be the war in Ukraine, the war that Russia has started against Ukraine, and this war is already seen to have consequences. in our area and obviously affects us economically.
That is why we are talking about Ukraine, we are going to talk about energy, because, as we all know, energy prices have risen, especially as a result of this war.
We will discuss Defense, but we will also discuss what investments should be made as a matter of priority in Europe to allow us to decouple as much as possible from Russian gas, the energy that is now being imported from Russia and, of course, to ensure strategic independence. of the European economy.
A very rich agenda – in the matter of Ukraine, obviously, I will explain how we receive the Ukrainian refugees, how we build – and already work – the logistics center in Suceava, which will collect humanitarian aid from all over Europe for Ukraine. These issues will be discussed at this informal summit, “said President Klaus Iohannis ahead of the informal summit in Versailles.
The European Union's economic and strategic autonomy will be top of the agenda at an informal two-day meeting of its leaders, starting on Thursday in Versailles, France. Discussions at the casual summit, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, are expected to build on unity developed around the Ukraine crisis, the bloc's dependence on imported energy and its reliance on the NATO military alliance.
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In a published invitation letter to members of the European Council ahead of the meeting, its chief Charles #Michel said: "In the light of recent events, it is more urgent than ever that we take decisive steps toward building our sovereignty, reducing our dependencies and designing a new growth and investment model."
A draft of the EU summit declaration said leaders would pledge to "phase out" the bloc's dependence on Russian gas, oil and coal. Plans to cut Russian gas imports by two-thirds within a year were outlined by the European Commission on Tuesday. Russia supplies almost 40 percent of EU gas and a quarter of its oil, said the Associated Press.
The Financial Times said "rapid decision making" achieved by the EU in the past two weeks had "confounded critics", but noted that differences remain on "wider strategic objectives", such as energy investment strategy.
Michel recently described a "surge of unity" in the bloc in response to the conflict in Ukraine. In a March 1 social media post, he said: "The Europe of Defense was born this weekend. Today we witness a surge of unity that is unfailing. Confronted with the essential, we chose to be solid."
Michel also said this week that Ukraine's EU membership application would be discussed, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Euronews that admission for Ukraine was a realistic prospect.
Euronews analysis said the crisis "had injected the EU with the overdue resolve it needed to truly face up to the adverse geopolitics of its surroundings, brushing aside any remaining taboos and prejudices".
The EU made an unprecedented decision last month to send 450 million euros ($500 million) in military aid to Ukraine for weapons. It has never previously funded the arming of a country at war.
Macron is expected to push for deeper EU military cooperation at the summit. On Monday, he said: "We cannot depend on others to defend ourselves, whether on land, at sea, under the sea".
Writing in the New Statesman, Mujtaba Rahman, an expert on geopolitical risk with the Eurasia Group, said: "The French president has long argued that Europe must seize control of its own destiny and become equal partners with Washington - and an independent actor - in shaping decisions on the economy, foreign policy, defense and, crucially, Europe's own defense industries.
