The cabinet believes the energy-saving measures proposed by the International Energy Agency (IEA) are “mainly relevant for many other countries”. Prime Minister Rob Jetten made this statement during his press conference following the weekly cabinet meeting.
He said the Netherlands has already taken major steps to cut energy use in recent years.
“We learned a very tough lesson in 2022,” Jetten said, referring to the gas crisis after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Many saving measures have already been implemented.” As a result, he said, the Netherlands and Europe are better prepared for the economic impact of the war in the Middle East.
The IEA suggested measures to reduce fuel consumption, including increased remote working and lower speed limits. However, the cabinet is not yet willing to adopt these steps. Jetten said he believes “people in the Netherlands are perfectly capable of deciding for themselves” how to respond to the “extreme prices” at the pump.
The cabinet will hold an additional security meeting on Tuesday to discuss the war’s economic consequences. The House of Representatives will debate the same issue the following day, where many parties are calling for measures to ease rising energy and fuel costs for households and businesses.
Jetten says it is too early to take such action. The cabinet first wants to determine whether price increases are temporary or long-lasting. He also acknowledged that the problem will not be resolved quickly, as attacks continue on shipping routes and production facilities. “Even if the war were to stop today, it would not mean that energy supplies would be fully restored tomorrow.”
Jetten said the cabinet is prepared to take strong measures if needed. However, it will target them at the people and businesses most in need. Otherwise, he warned, this would “waste” public funds.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
