Rolandas Paksas, on behalf on the EFD Group. – (LT) Mr President, it really is very good that the European Union institutions have returned to one of the most important issues facing consumers recently. I am, of course, talking about the cost of electricity and gas.

At a time of economic crisis, the cost of electricity is becoming an important instrument helping all consumers survive and overcome further economic difficulties. Higher and recently more speculative prices for energy raw materials are driving both the business community and household customers to despair.

It is for precisely these reasons and to force energy suppliers into a framework where they would be unable to abuse their dominant position that I support the provisions contained in the regulation to the effect that penalties for infringements should not only take into account the gravity of the infringements and the profits made, but also the damage caused to consumers.

I believe that this should also cover various possible disruptions to energy supply which might arise because of political disagreements between individual countries. Some European countries have experienced this, including Lithuania. The regulation must therefore contain safeguards to prevent such incidents from being repeated.