Hearing of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) in the European Parliament, under AKEL’s auspices
Hearing of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) in the European Parliament, under AKEL’s auspices
“Energy crisis, price hikes and the high cost of living”
Press release by AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou, 8 June 2023
At the same time as people and small and medium-sized enterprises are still suffering from the consequences of the policies being pursued by the EU to deal with the banking crisis of the last decade, they are now also feeling the effects of the conflicts in Ukraine, which are exacerbating the already existing energy crisis. As a result, inflation is galloping, energy shortages and the food crisis are threatening thousands of households while the peoples are being driven into poverty.
As if this were not enough, the EU is promoting the complete privatisation of the energy commodity, the liberalisation and opening up of the energy market, while governments are imposing new taxes on polluting fuels, thus punishing the people for their own inability to apply a comprehensive strategy for the development of renewable energy. Although the new taxes are causing significant increases in energy costs, mainly for consumers and especially for working people and households, the Brussels directorate continues to demand a pile of money for the monopolies and the multinational energy companies, regardless of the profit speculation and profiteering at the expense of the people.
Within this context, we organised and hosted on Thursday, 1 June, in the European Parliament in Brussels, a special conference/Hearing entitled “Energy crisis, price hikes and the high cost of living”.
The event provided a platform for the exchange of views and ideas on how to effectively address the energy crisis. We had the opportunity to learn first-hand about Cyprus’ energy isolation and the consequences for our people, about policy measures that are needed to protect society from price hikes, how the Cypriot Parliament handles energy and price increase issues, how working people are affected by price increases and the subsequent deterioration of their living standards, as well as the importance of regaining public control of energy and how we can achieve this.
At the same time, we looked for solutions, delving into upcoming policies from the EU. By analysing the experiences of various EU countries, we discussed how we can build on their successful strategies and initiatives to tackle high energy prices. From taxing the windfall profits of energy companies to reducing VAT on electricity, we explored drastic solutions that can be implemented to mitigate the crisis and promote equal access to energy.
Among the keynote speakers were the following:
- Marc Botenga, MEP of the Workers Party of Belgium (PTB/PVDA) and Coordinator of the Left Group in the Parliamentary Industry, Research and Innovation Committee (ITRE)
- Neoklis Sylikiotis, former Minister of Energy and AKEL MEP
- Vakis Charalambous, member of the Economic Policy Office of AKEL
- Nikoletta Sofokleous, Member of the Energy Affairs Bureau of AKEL,
- Hasan Felek, former president of the Turkish Cypriot DEVIS trade union federation,
- Mathieu Strale, researcher at the Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Society of the University Libre de Bruxelles
We may, as European peoples, have different economic histories and different infrastructures, but we have a common goal: to regain public and democratic control of the energy sector. But we also have a common opponent. Namely, the relentless energy monopoly of the energy market.
Past and current examples show that collective struggle is the key to changing the balance of power. Times of crisis are crucial for building and winning these collective struggles.
The participation of all is crucial to finding innovative and effective solutions and for the formulation of a sustainable energy future.
