French President Emmanuel Macron has set a mechanism for lowering prices as a target for the extraordinary European summit to be held on the 30th. ‘at least’ what Spain and Portugal achieved with the so-called “Iberian exception”.
“We will at least try to achieve with gasoline the same as our Spanish and Portuguese friends have achieved” In a speech focused on renewable energy in Saint Nazaire, where France’s first offshore wind farm was inaugurated, Macron said it was a gas roof used for electricity generation that had “results” in the wholesale market.
The French president, thanks to this gas-related mechanism, “(electricity) prices in Spain are currently two to three times lower than in the rest of Europe.”
At the EU Energy Ministers meeting held on September 9, France proposed to other countries to extend this “Iberian exception” to setting electricity prices. rising gas prices.
However, Macron did not specify whether this would be his position at the 30th summit today, or whether he would be satisfied with it. “Iberian exception” Only valid for France.
The price of electricity skyrocketed in the wholesale markets in France (reached a record of over 1,000 euros per megawatt at the end of August) due to the impact of rising gas prices in Europe, but also due to fears of shortage problems as almost half of the nuclear reactors were shut down this winter due to maintenance or detected defects.
Macron, “european solidarity“In the energy field, it will mean gas exports to Germany, especially when it comes to France, and in turn it will continue to import electricity (especially from that country) to avoid power outages.
It’s a more sensible defense because a few hours ago, Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far right, said, “strongly disagreeWith the idea of sending gas to Germany, he said that “the French people should be protected” in the current conditions.
At the end of his meeting with the French prime minister, Le Pen said, “No one can understand that in France gas (…) is rationed to be supplied to Germany.” Elizabeth Borne.
Ask the US to lower prices
On the other hand, Macron gave a clearly appealing message to the United States as Russia turned off the oil taps, arguing that the Europeans would start talks with their gas suppliers allies to ask them to lower their prices. pipelines In line with the EU, it becomes the main exporter towards Twenty-Seven.
According to the French president, these EU allies cannot get gas cheap and use it in their country at 30-40 euros per megawatt hour. “They sell us for 140 or 150”.
According to his analysis, “there are a number of divergences” in European energy markets, including speculative phenomena, and the result is: some industrial activities are in danger Losing its competitiveness such as fertilizer production
Macron said his intention with the “electricity war” in the EU is to reform the market “to be more consistent” and that wholesale prices are not determined by the escalation of gas. “matches production prices more closely.”
What is at stake, he repeated, is “protecting our industrial fabric.” this electricity market reform, It is facing resistance from some member states, which are reluctant to abandon the marginal price-fixing system that the European Commission advocated until a few weeks ago.