Europe split over oil price plan

European Union leaders have agreed to a 3-month study to find ways of cushioning the impact of soaring energy prices on the region’s citizens.

At an energy summit in Brussels, ministers discussed plans to ease the pain of record oil and gas prices on consumers and companies.
They asked French President Nicolas Sarkozy to report back to the commission with a plan by October.

The plan follows protests across Europe by farmers, truckers and fishermen.

But opinion was divided about what action the European countries should take.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said there were no easy solutions.

“We have sent out a very clear message that there will not be a quick fix for the issue of the oil prices,” Mr Barroso said.

The EU wants to prevent another spate of militant action across the region, but there is little common ground on exactly how to tackle the oil prices spike.

BBC