Brussels Proposes Remote Work to Combat Rising Energy Costs
To address the increasing energy and fuel prices, Brussels plans to recommend that EU member states require companies to implement at least one mandatory remote workday, as confirmed by Spanish media.
The newspaper El Pais reported that they had gained access to a draft of the European Commission’s proposal. Besides the remote work initiative, it suggests various measures aimed at reducing energy and fuel use. These include “closing public buildings wherever feasible” and reducing or eliminating public transport fares for certain groups.
Other proposed initiatives in the draft entail EU member states providing “specific energy vouchers for vulnerable households,” extending temporary price caps for low-income families, and offering full or partial reductions on electricity consumption taxes for these households, according to the report.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to participate in an informal summit in Cyprus on April 23 and 24. The draft also claims that the EU has incurred an extra 22 billion euros in energy costs since the Iran conflict commenced earlier this year.
Some of the proposed actions, as mentioned by El Pais, can be quickly implemented across various sectors, including buildings, industry, and transportation. Others, particularly the suggested state aid measures, are deemed more “medium-term in nature.”
The report highlighted that the European Commission is once again emphasizing renewable energy as a solution to the crisis, aiming for energy security. This comes after the green agenda had been somewhat sidelined due to pressures and concerns from right-wing and industry factions.
The draft states, “Transitioning to a clean, abundant, domestically produced, safe, and affordable energy system is not just an environmental necessity but is also an economic, competitive, and security imperative. Short-term solutions should support the long-term strategy for a decarbonized and resilient EU energy system.”
Spanish public broadcaster RTVE also confirmed the existence of a draft “recommendation” that aligns with guidelines issued by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in mid-March to help mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices spurred by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
At that time, the IEA suggested lowering highway speed limits, selecting alternatives to air travel, and using electricity for cooking when possible to decrease reliance on fuel and liquefied natural gas.
RTVE added that the European Commission intends to allow member states to boost subsidies for fuel and fertilizers while also suggesting a coordinated gas storage effort among countries.
Although there’s no immediate threat to supply, the broadcaster noted that the airline industry might experience challenges due to potential jet fuel shortages.
