EU countries clash over ways to shield households from energy bill hikes this winter

Ireland joins eight other countries opposing energy market reforms 

Ireland, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and five other countries published a joint statement on Wednesday opposing EU energy market reforms. Picture: iStock

Some European Union countries including France and Spain stepped up calls to reform the bloc's energy market rules to cope with high prices, a stance challenged by a rival group of states including Ireland, as EU energy ministers meet today.

European energy prices surged to record highs in autumn as tight gas supplies collided with high demand in economies recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.