Czechia, currently occupying the presidency of the EU Council, which rotates every half-year, has convened an Extraordinary Energy Council meeting of ministers for July 26 in Brussels to review the EU’s plan for winter, before the August break. What will they talk about now? The EU Commission’s proposal, released July 20 by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for a 15% cut in gas across the board, has so far been rejected loudly by several nations.
Even the semblance of EU solidarity has ended, after member-state Hungary declared a state of energy emergency, and took various nation-serving measures, including ending gas exports to neighboring countries, and signing a new gas deal with Russia.
Belgium signed a letter of intent July 22 with French energy firm Engie, to extend nuclear power in Belgium for 10 years, as reported in detail by Euroactiv and other media.
