Belgium, (Brussels Morning) MEPs called on “emergency measures” to protect the most vulnerable from soaring energy prices during a plenary session in Strasburg today. Lawmakers asked for an appropriate price cap for imports of pipeline gas and measures to tackle speculation. On top of that, MEPs also pushed for more steps to introduce a tax on windfall profits while noting that all measures must remain consistent with the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal.
Emergency measures
The proxy war between Russian and Ukraine has dramatically exacerbated already-existing instability in the energy market and led to increasing energy prices and a cost of living crisis.
To address this crisis, MEPs want to ensure those who cannot afford their energy bills will not have their supply cut off and underlined the need to avoid home evictions for vulnerable households that are unable to pay their bills and rental costs.
“Consumers should be better protected from their fixed-rate contracts being suspended or withdrawn by suppliers, as well as from exorbitant pre-payments for gas and electricity,” reads the Parliament’s statement.
