Hungarian Foreign Ministry: nine EU countries did not support the gas price ceiling
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Nine EU countries, including Germany and Hungary, spoke out against setting a price ceiling for gas in a test vote during a meeting of energy ministers. This was announced by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
“Nine countries, including us, were against the price cap, but since a supermajority is needed, it is a supermajority, although nine countries were against it, it has accumulated,” he said (quote according to RIA Novosti).
According to the Hungarian Foreign Minister, on December 19, the energy ministers of the EU countries will still approve the gas price ceiling. At the same time, he noted the “irregularity, harm and danger” that this decision carries. Szijjártó announced this on social media.
Szijjarto stressed that Budapest considers this initiative a mistake and will vote against the ceiling. He explained that the introduction of a gas price cap would force Hungary to coordinate with the EU changes in long-term contracts with Russia.
December 13 Szijjarto informed discussing with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak the possibility of amending long-term Hungarian-Russian contracts for the purchase of gas. According to the Hungarian minister, the Russian side expressed readiness for such a scenario if necessary.
In November, the EU countries began an active discussion of the price ceiling for gas. The European Commission has proposed launching a mechanism to limit energy prices if two conditions are met. First, the price of gas exceeds 275 euros per MWh for two weeks. Second, the price of TTF is 58 euros higher than the base price of LNG for 10 trading days.
11 December Bloomberg learned about about disagreements on this issue among the countries of the Commonwealth. 13 December EU energy ministers failed agree on a price limit for gas. December 15 EU summit also couldn’t agree on a price ceiling and determine the principle of common energy resource purchases. At the same time, the EU noted the achievement of consensus on this issue. Today, December 19, energy ministers will once again discuss the marginal gas price.
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