The Czech government has rejected a proposal by Polish politicians to create an energy organization that would buy gas for the entire EU. Rather than creating a EU public body, Czech leaders said they would prefer the creation of a consortium of private companies to handle this sort of procurement, according to Reuters. Central European countries dependent on Russia for gas, which comes mainly via Ukraine, are looking for alternatives that would make them less vulnerable to the escalating geopolitical tensions in the East.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wants the EU to create an energy union, which would secure gas contracts on behalf of the EU and potentially lead to €30bn in annual savings. The Czech government said it would support Poland’s call for funding new infrastructure from the EU’s fund for energy, transport and digital networks.
