How can we promise Europeans that they will be able to keep warm this winter and face soaring electricity bills? Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will present emergency measures in her “State of the EU Address” on Wednesday, an exercise inspired by American policy.
This annual political speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg will have as guest of honor the Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, announced Tuesday evening on Twitter the head of the European executive. “The courage of the Ukrainian people has touched and inspired the world,” added Ursula von der Leyen.
The leader is expected to outline her proposals for curbing soaring energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, at a time when runaway inflation is threatening the continent’s economy.
Meeting on Friday, the European Energy Ministers asked the Commission to prepare in a few days “a solid and concrete proposal”.
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson promised “unprecedented measures”: “There is no magic wand, but we can cushion the impact,” she said in Strasbourg.
The European executive has already sketched out several avenues: a cap on the super-profits of nuclear power and renewable energies, whose production costs are far below the market price, in order to redistribute them; binding targets for reducing electricity demand; a “contribution” demanded of gas and oil groups.
The EU-27 also asked him to study a possible cap on the price of EU gas imports, a measure that Brussels initially wanted to apply only to Russian gas.
“We are eager to know the concrete proposals of the Commission. We can no longer afford to depend on unreliable actors,” warned Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Tuesday. Alongside him, the Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin denounced the “blackmail” of Moscow on gas supplies.
The energy ministers will meet again on 30 September to decide on this emergency plan, some of whose potential measures are already dividing the 27 Member States, whose energy situations vary greatly.
Accountability
During this “key moment of European democracy”, according to the Parliament, the Commission – not elected but having the initiative of European laws – is supposed to give an account of its achievements and present its projects: after a speech of about forty minutes, scheduled for 09:00 (07:00 GMT), Ursula von der Leyen will engage in a debate of more than two hours with the MEPs.
This is the third time since she took office that the head of the European executive has engaged in the exercise, this time in a very different context: a year ago, the leader was still strong in the united management of the health crisis of Covid-19.
“This is perhaps the most important speech of Ursula von der Leyen’s term of office, there are very strong expectations of quick and decisive words and deeds”, considers Valerie Hayer, MEP for Renew (centrists and liberals).
After more than six months of war and a European unity that is waning, “this is the moment to not have a shaking hand, not to oppose support for the Ukrainians and protection of Europeans”, agrees the socialist Sylvie Guillaume.
According to her, it is time “for the European Commission to really become the geopolitical commission” that she said she wanted to be at the beginning of her mandate in 2019.
In addition to the energy issue, Ursula von der Leyen, who will speak alternately in English, German and French, is also expected to address the EU’s “green transition”, the economic recovery plan and the defense of the rule of law, without necessarily mentioning Hungary.
