Energy prices have climbed to the skies this year. For Sweden, these have been the consequences of a hot summer, higher prices for fossil fuels and lower water reservoirs. For the whole of the EU, the problem points to rising demand and the price of natural gas. That is why energy will be the biggest issue at this week's EU summit in Brussels, which concludes on Friday.
Last week, the European Commission already gave its opinion on the state of energy and solutions at national level.
"In the short term, it is the Member States that are best placed and equipped to act," energy commissioner Kadri Simson said at a press conference in Brussels, according to an article in Aftonbladet.
"It may seem difficult for Member States that are recovering from the pandemic, but revenues from the Emissions Trading System (ETS) have been steadily increasing and we urge countries to use that income," simson says.
Council: provide urban support to enterprises
Furthermore, the paper writes that the Council of the European Commission is, among other things, to introduce temporary and targeted tax breaks for vulnerable households, and that businesses and industries should be able to receive urban support.
Energy Minister Anders Ygeman (S) spoke to TT at the press conference about the short-term situation in Sweden.
–Of course I welcome the Commission's initiative, but the impact in Sweden is significantly smaller than it is on the European continent and this is because half of Europe's households are heated by fossil gas and very few here in Sweden.
Reports have shown that energy prices can rise even during the winter, which Ygeman is cautiously looking at.
I would say that we are unlikely to have such an impact as on the European continent now. Should that be the case, we will of course have to consider what measures we should take. It should be remembered that it is not less than a week since we had negative electricity prices and Swedish consumers were paid to receive electricity.
