Just days after Russia said it would not restart gas flows through a critical pipeline to Europe, the bloc’s energy ministers backed overarching plans for a price cap on all gas imports and a levy on power producers.
But, in an emergency meeting late last week, they struggled to agree on the details. They still have to decide whether to cap the price of all imported gas or just supplies from Russia and how to establish a mechanism to skim off the windfall profits of energy companies enjoying record high prices.
With European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen expected in her annual State of the Union address on Wednesday to focus on energy, bureaucrats are trying to find common ground between the 27 member states to prevent blackouts and financial pain for businesses and consumers this winter.