LIVE: EU Energy Ministers Hold Informal Talks In Dublin Amid Surging Prices; Tough Winter Looms
Energy ministers from the EU’s 27 member states are meeting in Dublin, Ireland, on Tuesday (September 29) for informal talks focused on energy affordability and security. Ministers from Norway, Switzerland, Britain and Ukraine will also join the discussions. The EU is looking to cushion the impact of soaring energy prices ahead of a winter that promises to be difficult for consumers.
The talks are chaired by Irish Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien, under Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. They are not expected to produce major decisions but will help coordinate action across the bloc. Ahead of the meeting, Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen wrote to member states recommending measures to reduce electricity and gas demand to help contain prices.
European gas prices have more than doubled owing to the US-Iran war, just as the bloc needs to replenish its reserves. Storage levels are exceptionally low for this time of year, though Jorgensen said there are no immediate risks to security of supply. Storage averages around 70% across the EU, with France at 82% and Germany at 57%. Brussels wants to avoid countries rushing to fill reserves all at once, which could push prices up further.
Diesel prices at pumps across the bloc have hit record highs this month. The European Commission has recommended targeted support for the hardest-hit sectors and relaxed its state aid rules. Some countries, including France, have also sought a one-year postponement of new methane emission rules for oil and gas importers, due to take effect in 2027. Beyond the immediate crisis, Brussels says the lasting solution lies in electrification, aiming for electricity to meet 46% of all energy consumption by 2040, double the current rate.
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