Ms Catharina Sikow-Magny:

I thank the Senator for her questions. On the implementation and monitoring of the revenue cap, that is something we consider is best placed for member states. The aim of the measure is to provide the member state with revenues that it can then use to support its consumers. Therefore, we will not, from the Commission perspective, get into monitoring what has taken place in member states. That is the member state’s responsibility and the possibility is given to it to help its consumers in the difficult situation that we saw last winter.

On the gas demand reduction target, we are certainly looking at each member state and its specific situation and whether there is no possibility for a member state to reduce gas consumption. On the other hand, if a member state has access to gas, because that is also one element where not every member state had access to the gas it normally consumed, this will be taken into account. If the gas consumption is essential in Ireland to be able to produce the electricity and heating that its consumers and businesses need, I am sure that we will take that into account when looking at how member states are complying with the measure. It will be looking at each member state and its specific situation, and taking that into account.