5 EU member countries call for an investigation into the increase in gas prices

The finance ministers of France, Spain, Czechia, Greece and Romania issued a joint statement on the rise in natural gas and wholesale electricity prices.

In the statement, it was stated that a joint and coordinated approach should be taken across Europe against the price increases in recent months that have been troubling households and companies.

In the statement, which pointed out that the functioning of the European gas markets should be investigated and the reason why the existing gas contracts were insufficient, the importance of establishing common rules for natural gas storage in order to limit price increases was emphasized.

In the statement, which stated that better coordination of gas purchases in Europe, increasing bargaining power and regulating the electricity market are important, it was demanded to establish a better link between the average cost of electricity production in the country and the price paid by the consumer.

The statement called for the rapid reduction of Europe's dependence on gas-exporting countries and investment in energy supply diversification.

Emphasizing that low-carbon sources such as wind and solar play a key role in energy supply diversification, the statement emphasized the importance of emissions trading system and carbon pricing in energy transformation.