Italy's outgoing government has criticized Berlin's decision to cap the price of gas for domestic consumers by taking on a new debt of 200 billion euros.

"We cannot be divided according to our fiscal space to maneuver, we need solidarity," Prime Minister Mario Draghi said, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

"No EU member state can offer effective solutions in the long term, acting alone, if we do not have a common strategy, even those that seem less financially vulnerable," he said.

The criticism came on the eve of a meeting of EU energy ministers in Brussels, where they are going to discuss ways to combat the energy crisis. Italy, along with 14 other countries, is pushing for price caps on all EU gas imports, which Berlin opposes, fearing it would jeopardize security of supply.

"The EU response must cut costs for households and businesses and avoid market distortions. We must show ourselves united, determined, as in our support for Ukraine," Draghi said.

EU heads of state and government are likely to discuss the issue at a summit in Prague next Friday.