The EU needs to go beyond its current plans to tackle the energy crisis so that people can afford to pay their energy bills, European Council President Charles Michel said, Reuters reports.

"It's good proposals, but more will be needed," Michel told reporters, referring to the EU's plans to bring down energy prices for the bloc's citizens and businesses.

"On prices, there is a proposal on the table... it is good but is it enough? I don't think so, I think it's important to accelerate in terms of the electricity market," he said, while highlighting the need to rework pricing mechanisms.

Michel, said the EU needs to reduce energy consumption as well as increase supply, a topic he recently discussed with Algeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Although he did not conclude any specific agreements, he noted that potential expanded cooperation includes increased energy supplies from Algeria to Spain, EU investment in upgrading gas connections between Algeria and Italy, and cable for electricity transmission. In Qatar, he discussed diverting some LNG supplies destined for Asia to Europe in the short term.

He added that Saudi Arabia has invited the EU to invest in its plans to develop green hydrogen, and the United Arab Emirates has offered to invest in its renewable energy projects.