PM Tusk pushes for energy union

Writing in the Financial Times, Tusk calls for the creation of a “single European body charged with buying its gas.”

Poland’s Prime Minister argues that since the European Union already has managed to create a banking union and also pruchases uranium for all of its nuclear energy plants through Euratom, the EU’s nuclear energy agency, the next step should be an energy union.

In order for this to happen, Tusk says that “Europe should develop a mechanism for jointly negotiating energy contracts with Russia,” which “would be created in stages,” with the European Commission ultimately playing a role in negotations.

Tusk mooted the idea for an energy union back in March and has pushed the idea in the wake of the Ukraine crisis, which saw the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych and a reprisal by Russia through the annexation of Crimea.

Moscow has also hiked gas prices for the government in Kiev, causing concern for European countries which rely on Russian gas as well as its transit through Ukraine. (jb)