The EU’s platform for joint gas procurement, which has been in place since April, has not achieved anything so far. That should change according to the will of the governments.
Since the beginning of April this year there has been an EU platform on which the member states can pool their market power and buy natural gas together. But in these more than eight months, not a single gas molecule has been procured together. In view of the threat of a further deterioration in the situation, the energy ministers spoke out in Prague on Wednesday in favor of daring a new attempt at such joint gas purchases under the EU banner. But little has changed about the fundamental reasons why it hasn’t worked so far. At next week’s European Council, the heads of state and government of the Union are likely to have a second tough nut to crack in addition to the still unresolved question of whether, and if so, how, gas prices should be capped.