Political restrictions on Russian gas imports will not help lower energy prices for European households and businesses, Belgian Energy Minister Tinne van der Straeten told Reuters ahead of emergency talks with the EU on Friday.

A price cap on Russian pipeline gas imports proposed by the European Commission ahead of Friday's ministerial talks aimed at reducing unrestrained energy prices has so far met with mixed reactions in the bloc's 27 countries.

European consumers need a cap on wholesale gas prices, not just a "political" restriction on Russian imports, she said.

She said Belgium wants a dynamic price cap on exchange-traded gas linked to Asian markets across the EU to ensure security of supply.

The Netherlands, which has traditionally opposed market interventions, supported a narrower option that would only apply to Russia.

Van der Straeten said energy ministers should give clear guidance to the European Commission on how to act on lower energy prices.

She said that joint EU gas purchases should be promoted and that the bloc needs energy market price reform that would separate electricity produced from gas and electricity from non-fossil sources, such as nuclear power or renewables.