Czech and Belgian PMs call for lower energy prices in the EU

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš met Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in Prague on Friday for talks on energy, security and the war in Ukraine. At a joint press conference afterwards, the two leaders said the European Union must bring high energy prices under control in order to remain competitive.

De Wever praised Babiš for raising the issue of energy prices at the European level and for openly addressing the problem. Babiš said the Czech Republic remains active in efforts to revise the EU emissions trading system. The two leaders also discussed energy security and nuclear power.

Both prime ministers said they hoped the war in Ukraine would end soon and lead to peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. Babiš added that Belgium is an important trading partner for the Czech Republic. Czech exports to Belgium reached a record CZK 136 billion last year, while total trade between the two countries amounted to CZK 220 billion.