Heger: If Putin loses his influence on Europe, the gas market will calm down!

If Russian President Vladimir Putin loses his influence on Europe, a significant element of uncertainty will disappear, which will calm the gas market and lower its price, according to Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger. He stated this after the afternoon program at the summit of the European Political Community (EPC) in Prague, informs TASR reporter.

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According to Heger, Putin only cares about his own benefit. “He wants to collect the same income for significantly smaller supplies,” said the Slovak prime minister.

Heger informed that he also had a meeting with the Norwegian Prime Minister. He thanked him for increasing gas supply capacities by opening another connection through Poland, which, according to the prime minister, is also advantageous for Slovakia.

According to Heger, setting the gas price is key. “We are repurchasing gas that was supposed to go to Asia and is now going to Europe. Those prices must be set in such a way that we are guaranteed sufficient capacity and gas supplies. Because even though gas will be cheap, but we won’t have it, it won’t help us,” explained the prime minister.

At the European level, he wants to promote an agreement on the price between the twenty-seven countries. “Because the countries try to buy individually, its price is driven unnecessarily high, because we are competing with each other,” explained Heger.

The Prime Minister pointed out that a detailed discussion on the solution to high gas prices had not yet taken place at the EPC meeting on Thursday. He expects a debate on this issue on Friday at an informal meeting of the European Council.

As part of the Thursday afternoon program, the statesmen were divided into four groups. The Slovak Prime Minister together with the President of Moldova Maia Sanduová chaired the debate at the round table on the topic “Peace and security on the European continent”. Nine other state representatives took part in the discussion, including the host, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. According to Heger, the discussants agreed that Russia is a threat and therefore all countries must be united and cooperate.

Heger then held three bilateral meetings – with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob, the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani.

On Thursday, the first ever summit of the European Political Community (EPC), initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron, is being held at Prague Castle. The leaders of 43 European countries are discussing peace and security, energy, climate and the economic situation at Prague Castle. The EPC meeting will be followed by an informal summit of the European Union on Friday.