The Energy Ministers of Romania, Greece and Bulgaria have decided to make a common front before the European Union regarding the energy prices in this region, which are much higher compared to Western countries. Now we don’t have solidarity between EU countries, the Romanian Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, told HotNews.ro.
The price of energy in Romania is, on Thursday, once again the highest in Europe – 149 euros per MWh. In Bulgaria, the price is 135 euros, and in Greece – 121 euros. There are high prices also in Hungary – 145 euros, Serbia – 128 euros, Slovakia – 126 euros.
Instead, in Austria the price is 102 euros, the Czech Republic – 113 euros, Germany – 112 euros, France – 68 euros and in Norway 5 euros per MWh.
“I talked last week with my counterparts in Bulgaria and Greece and we agreed that we have a common problem and that we will have a common position before the European Commission regarding the issue of the price of energy, which is very high in this part of Europe. It is clear that the European single market has decoupled,” said Burduja.
According to him, the main reason is the congestion in the network that has appeared in the central area of the continent, especially on the lines between Austria and Hungary, where the interconnection capacity is small. “It is important, within the EU, to be together both in good times and in bad times, but what is happening now is not solidarity”, added the minister.
Earlier this week, Greek Energy Minister Theodore Skylakakis also complained that the EU’s unified electricity market is not working for South-Eastern Europe and that he will work with Romania and Bulgaria to find a permanent solution to the increase energy prices in the region.
“The Ministers of Energy from Greece, Bulgaria and Romania take a joint initiative, with the aim of creating a permanent intervention mechanism, whenever extreme prices are recorded, following the decoupling of South-Eastern Europe from the rest of the European energy market”, says the Greek Ministry of Energy in a press release.
What happened to that mini Schengen announcement 3 months ago as an answer to Austria’s veto???? Just another bla bla bla especially from the Greek side. All tourists going to Greece by car and all the TIR at the multiple boarder checks that pile up for hours… consum incredible amounts of fuel energy! Waste of time, money that also contributes to high inflation in our region due to high transportation costs of people and goods. Ainte.