Commission admission: energy independence has a price
One year after EU leaders adopted measures aimed at bringing down energy prices, the European Commission tabled another blueprint aimed at reducing energy dependence on Russia. But Commission experts admitted that reducing energy dependence would further raise prices.
<p>At the special summit dedicated to energy issues on 22 May 2013, EU leaders adopted measures to lower energy prices, and so improve the European Union’s industrial competitiveness [read more].
But this time, the Union’s political priority being the high degree of dependence of many member states on Russian energy imports, the European Commission tabled today (28 May) another blueprint, as a basis for discussion for the 26-27 June EU summit.
Presenting the paper, Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said that the European Union wanted strong and stable partnerships with important suppliers such as Russia, but that it must avoid "falling victim to political and commercial blackmail".</p>
