By Gavin Jones and Belén Carreño

ROME, (Reuters) – The European Union’s southern members called for the adoption of common energy policies by the bloc in light of spiralling prices and Russia’s threat to their security.

Reporters were told by Mario Draghi, the Italian Prime Minister.

Following a meeting between the leaders of Spain Portugal Greece and Portugal Draghi claimed that they had primarily focused on energy.

European energy prices have risen since Russia invaded its neighbor on February 24, and Draghi stated that “a common management would be beneficial to everyone”. He called for the creation of common purchase and storage mechanisms within the bloc of 27 nations.

Spain’s Pedro Sanchez, Portugal’s Antonio Costa, attended the Rome gathering personally, while Kyriakos Beisotakis of Greece joined by video link.

They discussed plans to attend a regular EU Leaders Summit in Brussels, March 24-25. These include clawing back energy company excess profits and temporarily capping wholesale gas price.

EYEBROWS RAISED

After being excluded from diplomacy’s most high-profile diplomatic activities in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow called a “special operations”, southern European nations are now trying to find common positions.

Italy raised eyebrows when Draghi didn’t get invited to participate last week in a five way video conference between U.S. President Joe Biden (France), French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Sanchez, who spoke after Friday’s meeting to reporters that Europe had to address its weaknesses in energy. He said that he wanted one solution and not 27.

He indicated that next week’s EU summit should decide whether or not energy measures are possible to be used “the following day”.

Costas and Mitsotakis both sent similar messages calling for an integrated approach to energy policy.

Spain and Italy look at joining energy projects. Madrid promotes the construction of an off-shore gas pipeline, which will be assisted by SNAM (Italian energy infrastructure company).

Italy imports about 90% of its natural gas, with 40% coming from Russia. Italy has held discussions with several countries recently, including Qatar and Algeria in order to find alternative sources of gas.

The government also plans to increase its domestic gas production, and like many EU countries, to boost renewable energy sources. However, Roberto Cingolani, Ecological Transition Minister, says that it will be at least three more years before Russian gas is fully replaced.

(additional reporting from Angeliki Koutantou. Renee Maltezou. Inti Landauro. Patricia Rua. Writing by Gavin Jones. Editing by Andrew Heavens.