An EU-US agreement for supply of an additional 15 bcm of American LNG to the continent this year, as part of a plan envisioning annual supply amounts reaching 50 bcm by 2030, was the most important piece of news to emerge from the Brussels summit on March 24 and 25, along with a decision for joint LNG orders by the EU to producing countries.

Steps taken by the EU for natural gas and electricity price de-escalation were, once again, far from resolute. Though the EU leaders decided on the need for a price ceiling on natural gas, specific decisions were not taken. Instead, the European Commission was called upon to process proposals and present its conclusions by the next summit of EU leaders, scheduled for May.

Consumers in the EU, especially those in the south, more exposed to the energy crisis’ price fluctuations as a result of a lack of energy storage facilities, will, until further notice, need to keep persevering amid the insecurity and threat of escalated prices.

Today’s wholesale electricity price in Greece is 245.56 euros per MWh, up from Friday. Price levels in the short term will depend on how energy markets interpret the announcements following last week’s two-day summit.