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Parliamentary question - P-010896/2013Parliamentary question
P-010896/2013

On reducing the links between oil and natural gas prices

Question for written answer P-010896-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Justas Vincas Paleckis (S&D)

Energy policy is an important instrument for stimulating the EU economy. The EU cannot boast of large fossil fuel resources, and forecasts indicate that by 2035 natural gas and oil imports in the Union will have almost doubled. The complex situation is confirmed by the fact that in 2012 the price for natural gas in the US was almost a quarter of that in the EU. The difference in the prices paid for energy by citizens of EU Member States is unfairly great. Efforts are being made at both EU and Member State level to reduce it. At the European Council summit in May the heads of the European institutions and EU Member States decided that these differences will be reduced if the internal market in energy becomes fully integrated, there is further investment in energy saving, infrastructure, renewable energy and innovations, and there is diversification of energy imports. The issue of reducing natural gas prices is relevant for the residents of many EU Member States as the heating season approaches. To a large degree the price of natural gas also depends on other competing sources of energy, such as oil, and prices in the international market. The conclusions of the aforementioned summit therefore state that reducing the influence of oil prices on natural gas prices would reduce the price of natural gas for EU consumers.

What measures does the Commission intend to take to limit the influence of the price of oil on the price of natural gas?

OJ C 206, 02/07/2014