EU leaders decided on Friday to give the European Commission the mandate to make joint purchases of gas, following the model of COVID-19 vaccine orders, in the context in which the war in Ukraine leads to rising energy prices, FP reports. The 27 members and the Commission will work together urgently on voluntary purchases of gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen, taking advantage of the EU’s economic share to benefit from better prices, according to the conclusions drawn at the Brussels summit. The European Commission has begun negotiations with major producing countries (Norway, Qatar, Algeria) and on Friday announced an agreement with the United States to increase its supply of liquefied natural gas to the EU. The EU’s procurement platform will also be open to the Western Balkan countries, as well as to the three countries associated with the EU through association agreements (Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia). At the meeting, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stressed the need for reducing energy dependence on Russia, diversifying the energy sources and routes, and finalizing the energy interconnections at EU level. The Bucharest leader also s
