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European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers: the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy and the need to tackle energy poverty (debate)
What is happening these days shows that the energy market cannot be liberalized like any other market. Energy companies wanted to make a profit now, not after the Fit for 55 package was implemented. The energy market must be regulated. Energy is not a luxury product, home heating is not a fad. It is a fundamental right. It is the duty of every European government and the EU to ensure that every citizen can heat their home at reasonable prices. Beyond that, we need to put more reason into the Green Deal ‘religion’. Given that we cannot provide even half of our consumption needs from renewable or green sources, the European Commission must be open to the use of gas and atomic energy. Otherwise, crises like this will happen again. One billion cubic meters of gas can be extracted annually from the Black Sea alone. Until we have other green energy sources at our disposal, the gas must be exploited. Yes, we should have common European gas storages and purchase jointly so that we can negotiate better prices. But before it is too late, I ask the European Commission once again to answer the questions I have also put to it in writing, namely: - what consequences the green transition has on jobs; - what consequences the green transition has on the right to individual mobility; - what consequences the green transition has on the competitiveness of European companies; - what will be the energy needs in 2050, from what sources we will cover them and what will be the costs.