debate
EU summit does not bring a solution to the dispute with Poland
The agenda for the summit of EU heads of state and government included discussions about the recent sharp rise in energy prices in the EU, digital change and the development of the corona pandemic. Photo: Olivier Matthys / AP / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
The debate about Poland at the EU summit ends without a solution. In addition to the rule of law, Chancellor Angela Merkel and her colleagues also discussed the recent sharp rise in energy prices.
In the bitter dispute over the rule of law in Poland, the EU summit in Brussels did not find a solution. The debate was a step that should help on the way to a solution, it was said on Thursday evening from EU circles. Political dialogue is needed here.
The debate was conducted in a calm atmosphere and was an opportunity to better understand the different points of view. EU Council President Charles Michel thanked the heads of state and government for their constructive approach.
The background to the dispute with Poland is a ruling by the Polish Constitutional Court, according to which parts of EU law are incompatible with Poland’s constitution. This decision is viewed by the EU Commission and a number of other states as extremely problematic because it could give the Polish government an excuse to ignore its unpleasant judgments of the European Court of Justice.
EU states at odds over affordable energy
In addition to the rule of law, Chancellor Angela Merkel and her colleagues also discussed the recent sharp rise in energy prices and the common trade policy. The deliberations ended shortly before midnight. The conclusions showed that the heads of state and government agreed to look more closely at the reasons for the price hike.
First of all, the EU countries should intervene nationally in order to protect consumers and companies from high costs in the short term. The discussions are to be continued at a special meeting of the energy ministers next Tuesday.
The hours of talks were held up by the Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, among others, according to EU circles. He insisted on mentioning the EU emissions trading system in the conclusions. It now says that the Commission, together with the EU financial regulator ESMA, should take a closer look at the market for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The commission should determine whether measures against “certain trading behavior” are necessary.
Commission to investigate electricity and gas market
Countries like the Czech Republic or Poland make speculation and the rising CO2 price jointly responsible for the rise in energy prices. In the EU emissions trading system, for example, electricity providers have to pay for the emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2. The commission recently said carbon trading was responsible for only one fifth of the rise in energy prices.
The EU countries also called on the Commission and ESMA to investigate the electricity and gas market. The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had previously proposed reforming the European electricity market. With this, the country hopes to reduce the influence of the gas price on the price of electricity. Chancellor Angela Merkel advocated a market economy solution. The subject of energy prices is to be taken up again at a summit in December.
The second day of the summit on Friday will focus on migration and the digital world, among other things.