European Union Questions Russian Oil Price Cap, Considers Making Fossil Fuel Companies Pay A ‘Solidarity Contribution’ | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Ben Zeisloft.

    Officials in the European Union are eyeing a "solidarity contribution" from energy companies as the bloc grapples with rising power prices.

    European nations are attempting to secure energy supplies as natural gas costs increase more than tenfold compared to normal levels. After leading finance ministers floated a price cap on Russian oil, the nation severed gas flow through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline last week, citing mechanical issues as the country continues its invasion of Ukraine.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that member states would impose the price cap while seeking a "solidarity contribution" from fossil fuel companies. During a Friday meeting in Brussels, however, energy ministers failed to reach a consensus on the former policy and debated the specific terms of the latter.

    "We can't take this card off the table because the other, better way - namely bringing down prices - could certainly be complicated," German Economy and Energy Minister Robert Habeck told reporters, according to The Associated Press. "We're doing something that affects the heart of European energy supply - we're intervening in the markets."

    Irish Climate Minister Eamon Ryan noted that policies must be implemented "within weeks, not months." He added that citizens will "see the high prices having effect" as temperatures decrease this fall.

    Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to double down on the restricted energy shipments, remarking at the Eastern Economic Forum on Wednesday that he is prepared to ignore existing supply agreements. "Will there be any political decisions that contradict the contracts? Yes, we just won't fulfill them. We will not supply anything at all if it contradicts our interests," Putin said. "We will not supply gas, oil, coal, heating oil - we will not supply anything."

    European Union ministers concurred that Russia was attempting to "blackmail" its geopolitical rivals. "Russia has used its gas supplies as a weapon to foster an energy crisis next winter but also to weaken our economies and divide - politically - the European Union," European Union Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said. "We have to ensure that their efforts will fail."

    Several member nations of the European Union, which abides by the official policy of becoming "a climate-neutral society" by 2050, heavily regulate fossil fuel production even as they gradually close remaining nuclear plants. Mentioning low hydropower capacity stemming from drought conditions throughout the continent, von der Leyen also said on Wednesday that the European Union would consider a "mandatory target" for cutting electricity consumption during peak hours.

    "If you look at the costs of electricity, there are peak demands. And this is what is expensive, because, in these peak demands, the expensive gas comes into the market," she said. "So what we have to do is to flatten the curve and avoid the peak demands. We will propose a mandatory target for reducing electricity use at peak hours."

    France has called for a 10% reduction in energy consumption, while Spain and Switzerland regulate thermostat levels for households and businesses. In a departure from other European officials, however, British Prime Minister Liz Truss reversed the nation's ban on fracking and proposed a return to oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

    "Energy policy over the past decades has not focused enough on securing supply," Truss told the House of Commons. "All of this has left us vulnerable to volatile global markets and malign actors in an increasingly geopolitical world."

poll#162

In what may be the most divisive period in modern American History, even more divisive than the turbulent sixties due to today's lack of patriotism, consider what are the major catalysts causing so much of this calamity of conflict, and vote: What most instigates the division of America, on this day September 20, 2022?

  Racism within our society

  Sex realignment to the detriment of our society.

  Biden /Harris Wide Open Southern Border Policy for the Demographic Upheaval of OUR Constitutional Republic

  Rampant Crime in Democratic controlled cities, and the possible contagion elsewhere

  Covid Pandemic, and its mishandling at the political, and bureaucratic levels.

  The unresolved questions /allegation regarding the flawed 2020 General Election

  January 6th Riot or "Armed Insurrection", depending upon patriotic perspective

  Joe Biden as Divisive Leader; Ineffective and Corrupt Executive

  Failed Education Industry, from an overall perspective, regarding all levels of education.

  Propagandistic Media in complete conflict with the First Amendment's guarantee of Freedom of Speech, and the awesome responsibility of a Free Press..

  "Orangeman Bad!"

  Bureaucracy rushing to a behemoth size, its unjustified expense, and far too often overreach.

  The Weaponized Deep State for political purposes

  A secular ambivalence to all that is real.

  Record number of overdose deaths from opioids and now Fentanyl

  Biden Administration's disastrous Foreign Policy

  Bidenflation /supply chain failure inevitably evolving into stagflation and recession.

  "Ultra MAGA Extremists" freely speaking louder AND LOUDER!

927 total vote(s)     What's your Opinion?

poll#132

Considering that Joe Biden is considered by so many to be the Imposter President: Is he actually knowledgeable enough, wise enough, patriotic enough to be this Constitutional Republic's president at this difficult point in these tumultuous times?

  Yes, Mr. Biden is thoughtful and kind, and just so different from the "Orange Man".

  No, this representation of "president" is either too corrupt, too stupid, or both to be a real president.

  I just want the fun guy, who knew how to make stuff work back.

670 total vote(s)     What's your Opinion?