The President of the Council of Europe, Charles Michel, stressed this Friday that it is not enough to rely solely on energy-saving measures to cope with weather-related challenges. He urged stronger actions to confront the ongoing energy crisis across Europe and called on the European Commission to present concrete steps that can lower household and business energy bills.
After criticizing what he described as a slow reaction from the European Administration led by Ursula von der Leyen, Michel reiterated in an interview with Europa Press and other media outlets that European-level measures must be intensified. Reducing energy consumption alone will not suffice to address the current pressures in the electricity market.
He noted that the commission’s proposal impacts consumers and aims to reform the habits of families, enterprises, and organizations. While such changes are acceptable, the question remains whether they are enough to accelerate discussions and decisions in the electricity market and to move the process forward effectively.
European Union prepares for electricity savings and discusses gas cap
Michel argued that this is not a new problem. In discussions held before the Ukraine conflict, EU leaders began exploring solutions. He said, before the summer, concrete proposals were to be placed on the table with the European Commission. While the announcement holds promise, he urged that tangible action follow as soon as possible.
He also recalled that to reduce energy prices, decisions such as a joint purchasing platform were already decided at the Twenty-Seven level. He described a strange situation where, despite the plan to implement this measure, some member states continue bilateral engagements for fear of delays.
Michel expressed hope that the process would accelerate and that there would be firm determination on this front, as such measures could give Europe the capacity to lower prices, though he cautioned that there is no magic solution. The topic would be discussed again at the European summits in October, with a focus on delivering practical results rather than symbolic promises.