“I remain convinced that the only solution is to freeze prices on a European scale. We were two or three countries that supported this at Versailles in March, now we are 23 or 24 countries and there is an important deadline in the Commission next week. I hope we will get there”, declares the Belgian Prime Minister.
“The only solution to the price freeze is on a European scale”, emphasizes the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander de Croix, in an interview he granted to the French-language newspaper “Le Soir” and which is published today.
“I remain convinced that the only solution is to freeze prices on a European scale. We were two or three countries that supported this at Versailles in March, now we are 23 or 24 countries and there is an important deadline in the Commission next week. I hope we will get there”, declares the Belgian Prime Minister.
Asked what Belgium will do if eventually there is no solution on a pan-European scale, Alexander de Croo replied: “We could perhaps try to form a coalition with countries that defend the same option. But doing it unilaterally by paying the price difference will destroy us.”
Continuing, the Belgian Prime Minister emphasizes: “A month ago I sent a somewhat gloomy message, I said that we will have difficult winters. Honestly, I don’t see many positives, I see mostly negatives so far. It will be maybe five difficult years, but if we organize well, we can also make a leap forward, up to 20 years, in many areas: reducing energy demand, more European integration in energy networks, investment in renewable energy sources…”
Despite the effects of the crisis, the Belgian prime minister says “no” to shock treatments, citing the handling of his British counterpart as an example to avoid. “We are in dense fog, and when we are in dense fog, we must drive carefully, reduce speed,” he says characteristically. At the same time, he argues that it is impossible for a country to freeze energy prices alone, because the cost to public finances would be too high. “We also freeze prices in Belgium by guaranteeing a basic consumption package, with an adjustable price, and the additional consumption which costs more, helps to finance the model. There is a regulatory effect. But the real freeze, without budgetary compensation of the states, I don’t see how else it can be implemented, if not at the European level.”
Referring, finally, to the extremely difficult situation in which small energy-intensive businesses find themselves (eg bakeries, shops with refrigerators…), he admits that many small shops are on the verge of ceasing to operate.
“Immediate measures have been taken on the energy bill by the Regions, we are trying to help them with the indexation of wages with an envelope of one billion. But if prices do not fall, in the coming months, we will be faced with extremely difficult situations for SMEs. And there is a risk of massive deindustrialization at the European level, because in other parts of the world prices are much lower. That is why I am calling for action at European level. Otherwise, in six months, the effects may be irreversible.”
RES-EMP
Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
