The growing energy prices put under strong pressure not only the poorer population groups. In order to cushion the social consequences of this development, EU Commission president Barroso has called on the member states to think about the introduction of socially subsidised fees for basic energy consumption:

1) How does the Council of the European Union relate to the demand to introduce subsidised social fees to the area of energy supply?

2) What did the Council of the European Union do until now to get the energy companies in the member states to introduce subsidised social fees?

3) Does the Council of the European Union share the opinion that basic supply with energy constitutes a social right? If yes, by what instruments could this basic right be implemented in the member states?

4) Can the Council of the European Union name "best practices" or respectively models from which the member states might take orientation in the introduction of social fees for energy?