Ukraine: EU response on energy prices needed - Draghi

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 23 - Premier Mario Draghi said a response was needed at the EU level to the problem of soaring energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine as he reported to the Lower House ahead of this week's European Council summit.
    "The European Council will discuss the increase in energy prices, which are very high with respect to historic levels, more than fives times (higher) than last year," he said, calling for a "European response".
    "Common management of the energy market is needed," he said.
    "A common approach to stocks is needed to strengthen bargaining power with respect to suppliers.
    "The creation of a EU cap on the price of gas is at the centre of a debate with the president of the Commission.
    "We want to break the link between the price of gas and electricity, part of which is produced by alternative sources, the price of which has nothing to do with gas.
    "It is essential to focus on renewable energy in a decisive way and to give a central role to the southern side of the Mediterranean.
    "I hope that the European Council takes ambitious decisions on all these fronts that can become rapidly operative".
    The government has passed a series of big packages to reduce the impact of the higher energy prices on households and businesses, including one that came into force on Tuesday to bring petrol prices at the pump down by 30.5 cents for a month.
    Draghi said he was aware that more measures are needed.
    The premier noted that the war had also caused food prices to rise sharply.
    "These increases depend on external shocks, which oblige us to accelerate the path of strategic autonomy in the food field," Draghi said. (ANSA).