EU Countries Desperate for Gas Price Cap to Fight “Untenable Inflationary Pressures”

You see people going around saying “oh well, things aren’t really that bad…”

What do they mean by this?

The governments themselves are admitting that things are indeed that bad.

Reuters:

A group of European Union countries want to push Brussels to produce plans this week for a bloc-wide cap on the price of gas, according to a draft letter seen by Reuters.

The EU proposed a package of emergency measures to tackle soaring energy prices earlier this month, but has steered clear of a gas price cap, an idea which has split the bloc’s 27 member states.

Countries in favour plan to step up pressure on Brussels, with a letter asking the European Commission to make proposals on a gas price cap for discussion at a meeting of EU energy ministers on Friday, followed by a legislative proposal as soon as possible.

We acknowledge the efforts made by the Commission and the measures it has put forward to face the crisis. But we have yet to tackle the most serious problem of all: the wholesale price of natural gas,” said a draft of the letter, seen by Reuters.

EU officials said around 10 countries are considering signing the letter, with Belgium, Italy, Poland, Malta and Greece among them.

Addressed to EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson, the draft letter called for a price cap on all wholesale gas transactions. Diplomats were negotiating over the letter on Monday, and its contents could still change.

The draft said capping gas prices would help countries rein “untenable inflationary pressures” hitting households and businesses, and could be designed in a way that ensures security of supply.

Other states oppose capping gas prices, raising doubts as to whether any EU proposal would win sufficient support.

Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark say capping prices could endanger the security of supply by undermining the EU’s ability to attract gas deliveries this winter.

Russia has slashed gas deliveries to Europe since the West imposed sanction on Moscow invaded Ukraine, leaving countries scrambling to secure alternative supplies.

It was very poorly planned, all of it.

As far as I can tell, the infrastructure does not even exist to send the required amount of LNG from America, and it would take years to build. It would also drive up the cost of energy in America to meet European levels.

Where is the money going to come from to pay for these wars if the economy collapses?