Visegrád Group ministers seek EU exceptions to support industry

Ministers from the Visegrád Group (V4)—comprising the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia—met in Bratislava with European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen to discuss energy security and rising costs. The group is requesting temporary exceptions from EU fiscal rules to allow the use of cohesion and modernization funds to support domestic industries facing high energy prices.

Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček emphasized the need to maintain European competitiveness, noting that energy prices in Europe are significantly higher than in the United States or Asia. The Czech position includes calls to re-evaluate the ETS 1 emissions trading system, delay ETS 2, and grant nuclear energy the same status as renewable sources.

To mitigate rising costs, the Czech Republic has expressed readiness to implement electricity price caps at the producer level and is considering further measures such as capping trader prices. Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková also highlighted the necessity of ensuring acceptable prices for oil, gas, and electricity to protect the industrial sector.