Premier: EC Not Listening to Concerns about Differences in Energy Prices

Bratislava, 5 February (TASR) - Neither the European Commission (EC) nor the European Council are listening to concerns about the huge differences in electricity prices across Europe, even though several EU countries, including Slovakia, have drawn attention to this problem and proposed various solutions, stated Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in Parliament during the regular question time on Thursday. During the session, he also responded to a question from coalition MP Ivan Hazucha (Smer-SD): "Dear Prime Minister, what are your expectations from the informal European Council summit, which will focus on the competitiveness of the EU?" Fico said that he'd spoken on the phone with European Council President Antonio Costa in connection with preparations for next week's summit, pointing out, however, that this is an informal summit that won't produce any conclusions and that he's "very sceptical" about it. "Neither the European Commission, nor the entire European Council listen when it comes to the huge differences in electricity prices across Europe. We ask why, when we are a country that basically doesn't produce any emissions when producing electricity - because the vast majority of electricity, if we take into account power utility Slovenske elektrarne, is produced at nuclear and hydro power plants - we have to pay around €100 per megawatt on the exchange in Leipzig, while other exchanges in other parts of Europe set completely different prices?" asked the premier. Fico went on to say that he suggested to the European Council president that radical changes should be discussed, particularly in the emissions trading system (ETS). There are various approaches to this. "We're talking about a four- to five-year hiatus during which this system wouldn't be applied, which would significantly help to reduce electricity prices," stated Fico, also mentioning a Czech proposal to cap emission allowance prices at, for example, €30. Their current price stands at around €80-90. "But it seems to me that everything will remain as it is, because someone benefits from the emissions trading system, which is incredibly profitable. The result will be that the whole of Eastern Europe, including Italy, will continue to suffer from significantly higher electricity prices than other parts of the EU," added the prime minister. am/df