European Commission calls for investment in networks

The President of the European Commission called on Friday for a “major investment” in energy networks, interconnectors and electricity storage capacities to try to counter “ structurally high ” energy prices in the European Union (EU).

“We talked about the complicated issue of energy prices . Energy prices [in the EU] are structurally high,” Ursula von der Leyen said during a joint press conference with Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Brussels, Belgium.

“A major investment in interconnectors, in [electricity] networks and in [energy] storage” requested the president of the community executive, considering that it is “ necessary to lower ” the prices that citizens pay for energy.

Recognizing that the countries of the community bloc have an energy problem , following the “cut” in the Russian energy supply due to the invasion of Ukrainian territory, Ursula von der Leyen considered that there are other ways to obtain it.

And he pointed to renewables as the way forward, arguing that they are “ low carbon ” — aligning this idea with the goals of the ecological transition.

However, the President of the European Commission added, nothing is possible without “ the capacity to store it ” and a network capable of supplying the countries of the community bloc.