The European Commission has recommended that EU countries jointly buy gas to increase supplies, but warned that the desire to limit wholesale prices will cause problems and undermine efforts to switch to clean energy, Reuters reported.

In May, the European Commission will release a detailed plan to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027.

Meanwhile, countries are trying to find ways to quickly curb rising energy bills and find alternative sources in case Russian flows are disrupted.

Brussels on Wednesday proposed a series of options for this, which EU leaders will discuss at a 24-25 March summit.

The Commission recommended EU countries jointly purchase gas from suppliers, following a similar model to how the bloc bought COVID-19 vaccines, with a Commission-led task force of negotiators pooling demand and seeking gas ahead of next winter.

The Commission assessed other options - such as price caps, which Spain and Belgium have called for ahead of the EU leaders' summit.

One option would be for a government-controlled entity to buy electricity and sell to certain consumers below market prices. Another would be to cap power prices and compensate generators for the difference between the cap and the market price.

However, if countries did this individually, it could push power into countries without the cap and cause supply concerns elsewhere, the Commission said.

The European Commission has said that limiting electricity prices could also undermine the case for investment in new renewable energy production, while limiting fuel prices would make fossil fuel producers more competitive. Compensating for such measures would also require major government funding.

Separately, the Commission proposed legislation requiring EU countries to fill their gas storage to at least 90% by Nov. 1 each year from 2023, and 80% this year. That will need approval from EU countries and European Parliament.