The European Union discusses the price limit of Russia's natural gas, and the differences in various countries are obvious

The EU Energy Minister Special Meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium on the 9th to discuss how to cope with the continuous soaring energy prices to spend the "difficult winter". Focusing on the upper limit of Russia's natural gas price settings, there are different opinions and large differences in various countries.

On July 26, the EU Energy Minister Special Meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium. This is the meeting scene. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zheng Huansong)

Russia reiterated on the 9th that such price limit measures will not work, and will eventually only hurt their own economy.

Recently, EU countries have high energy prices, the cost of living has continued to rise, and many companies and the public have been under pressure. EU member of EU Council, Cadri Simatong, who is responsible for energy affairs, said on the 9th that the EU must adopt intervention methods to cope with rising energy prices and prepare for the coming "difficult winter".

The European Commission proposes the upper limit of the price of natural gas exported to Russia to the EU to reduce Russia's income. According to the EU rules, such major decisions require 27 member states to agree to pass.

This is a gas price display card taken at a gas station in Brussels, Belgium on March 29. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zheng Huansong)

Poland, Sweden and other countries have expressed support for this proposal, and some countries have resolutely opposed it. Some countries that filed objections pointed out that because Russia has fallen sharply against the EU gas, the upper limit of the setting price is unnecessary. There are also some countries that are still importing natural gas from Russia to worry about price limit measures to lead to Russian supply.

The Belgian Energy Minister Tingna Van Desteteten said: "In view of the fact that there are not so many Russian natural gas entering Europe, I can't see what added value is the upper limit of the set price."

The European Union plans to decrease by about 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas by the end of this year, a decrease of nearly two -thirds. According to data from the International Energy Agency, in 2021, the EU imported 155 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia, accounting for about 45%of the total natural gas imports of the EU and 40%of the total consumption.

On September 8, a man refueling the car at a gas station in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ren Pengfei)

Austrian Energy Minister Leionn Leader also opposed the price limit. She said that Austria "could not support this proposal."

Hungarian Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Minister of Foreign Economic Minister of Foreign Economy said that the price limit proposal does not conform to the interests of Hungary and Europe. If it is limited to Russia's natural gas, it will cause Russia to stop gas immediately.

In response to the European Union's trend, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the 7th that "is definitely a stupid decision" to Russia's natural gas limits. Once the EU makes a political decision that violates the contract, "if it does not meet our economic interests, we will stop supplying everything (energy), natural gas, petroleum, diesel or coal, and stop supply."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zaharaova reiterated this position on the 9th. According to her, Western countries do not understand that the price limit for Russia will eventually affect its own economy.

Many EU countries have long relied on Russian energy supply for a long time. Since the upgrade of the Ukraine crisis, the European Union and the United States have imposed multiple rounds of sanctions against Russia, but their anti -bulls have embarrassed the EU situation. The EU economy has been severely damaged, inflation has intensified, and uncertain economic prospects have increased significantly. (Zhang Jing)

(Source: Xinhua News Agency client)

【Edit: Fu Sakura】

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