Emmanuel Macron slams US for selling gas at higher prices; calls it 'double standard'

As Europe reeled under a severe energy crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron slammed United States for selling gas for more than 3-4 times higher than domestic rates. Calling practice a "double standard", Macron said US-me policies "left Europe with no option or than paying demanded price". critical remarks from Paris came as country has been witnessing an abrupt surge of gas prices ever since two countries-- Russia and Ukraine-- indulged in a full-fledged war. Moreover, Macron has been facing tough responses from his citizens, who have been demanding a respite from increasing energy prices. Besides,  workers in French oil refineries TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil have also been staging a protest for more than two weeks. 

While dressing a press conference following EU summit in Brussels, Macron said, "American gas is 3-4 times cheaper on domestic market than price at which y offer it to Europeans. se are double standards." According to a report by OilPrice.com, US natural gas exports to France increased 421% during first eight months of this year. On or hand, LNG prices increased by 1094% in August alone. Furr, President Macron said he would raise issue during his upcoming visit to US this December.

Macron asks EU to prepare a ro for next winter

Ahe of chilling winter season, Macron called on EU to prepare a ro map for next cold season. He reiterated 27-nation bloc must prepare blueprint without Russian gas and "most importantly at lower prices". President underscored that bloc has a double challenge- how to secure gas for next season and second-- how to deal with soaring energy prices. "We have a double challenge: to lower prices compared to today and empower ourselves to provide a mechanism to prepare for next winter. It [ next winter] will not be easier than this one, on contrary - we take into consideration that we will have to do without Russian gas at all," Russian news agency TASS quoted him as saying during presser.