Energy prices are rising, which has major consequences for households. This is a major concern for the @EPPGroup. One of Europe's key priorities right now should be tackling the problem of #energypoverty. #energycrisis
There is a variety of causes for today's high energy prices. Simply put, the supply of gas and electricity is decreasing while demand is increasing. Some claim that exporters abroad are reducing their European supply in order to raise prices even higher.
Some critics point the finger at climate-protection policies. This oversimplifies the issue. Today our ETS policy actually prices the environmental cost of CO2 emissions into electricity. EU policies incentivise producers to switch to cost-efficient alternatives.
However, if these alternatives are not available yet, costs may rise, putting consumers at risk. Therefore now is the time to make necessary investments in EU-infrastructure and to tackle the social aspect of this challenge which shouldn’t be overlooked.
There are already big numbers of people who cannot afford to heat or cool their homes or who live in rural areas and rely on their second - or third - hand Euro4 diesel cars to commute to work. Energy and mobility poverty are hurting families already.
If the cost of heating and transportation rises too high, we will live in a society divided between those who can afford rising electricity prices and those who cannot. The @EPPGroup will not accept this division.
At the European level, this means ensuring that we have a #SocialClimateFund which is not just allocated to Member States, but also reaches the most vulnerable households in each of them.
Our @EPPGroup believes that the energy transition should leave no one behind. We will not accept a society divided into two groups. Special attention is to those with the smallest purses, since they are the ones who can use the most help in making this transition a success.
That's why together with my @EPPGroup colleagues @jessicapolfjard, @markuspieperMEP, @MarianMarinescu and @SuncanaGlavak I have submitted these written questions to the European Commission on precisely this issue. #energypoverty 
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