VOA新闻杂志2022--欧盟国家寻求共同努力应对不断上涨的能源成本

EU Nations Seek Joint¹ Efforts to Fight Rising Energy Costs

European Union ministers met Friday in Brussels to seek joint solutions to protect citizens from rising energy prices. The increases threaten to put millions of people into cold and poverty this winter as Russia cuts off natural gas supplies.

As tensions with Russia increase over the war in Ukraine, energy ministers from the EU's 27 nations could not agree on whether to put a price limit on Russian natural gas. Hungary refused to agree to such a limit, saying it would go against its supply interests.

Other countries differed over whether a price cap should involve only Russia or include other producers too.

EU Energy Commissioner² Kadri Simson said, "Russia has used its gas supplies as a weapon to foster an energy crisis next winter, but also to weaken our economies and divide — politically — the European Union." She added, "We have to ensure that their efforts will fail."

Czech Industry Minister Jozef Sikela, who led the emergency meeting, said to ministers: "We cannot be blackmailed⁴."

Several officials admitted that reaching an agreement would not be easy. They said this is because each country has different energy mixes, supplies and needs. But the ministers did agree that a decision should come quickly so that the most vulnerable people across Europe are able to receive timely assistance.

Russia has reduced natural gas supplies that power factories and heat homes. This has driven energy prices up to record highs and fueled inflation that experts believe could put Europe into a recession.

Despite the sense of urgency, the ministers are set to only provide guidelines to the EU's executive branch, the European Commission. The commission will then present an official proposal for member states next week.

At that point, EU ministers will meet again to consider a joint proposal. The hope is that a decision can be reached early next month.

Germany's Economy and Energy Minister, Robert Habeck, said he thinks the commission had "a clear mandate⁵" to create a workable proposal – or proposals – to bring prices down.

Habeck said Friday's meeting clearly showed the different situations faced by EU member states. But everyone showed a willingness "to bring about relief for European citizens," he added. Not reaching an agreement "is not an option," Habeck said.

Russian pipeline⁶ gas made up 40 percent of all gas Europe imported before President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February. It now only makes up 9 percent of the total.

The commission believes the EU is prepared for the winter, with joint gas storage levels at 82 percent — well ahead of the 80 percent target that was set for the end of October.

Words in This Story

foster – v. to help (something) grow or develop

blackmail³ – v. to make a person or group do something by threatening them

vulnerable – adj. easily hurt or harmed

mandate – n. support for action given to someone by the people voting for them

option – n. a choice

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

3 blackmail   

n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓

参考例句：

• She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
• The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

4 blackmailed   

胁迫，尤指以透露他人不体面行为相威胁以勒索钱财( blackmail的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He was blackmailed by an enemy agent (into passing on state secrets). 敌特威胁他（要他交出国家机密）。
• The strikers refused to be blackmailed into returning to work. 罢工者拒绝了要挟复工的条件。

5 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

6 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。