Brussels - Energy ministers from over ten EU member states, including Slovenia, have requested for the European Commission to put forward a proposal on a price cap on natural gas, foreign media report. The ministers wish to discuss the proposal at Friday's extraordinary meeting in Brussels. The Commission said it had not received the letter yet.

In the letter addressed to EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, the ministers stress that the number of EU member states in favour of a price cap on gas is ever increasing.

They feel that by putting a cap on natural gas prices will mitigate the inflationary pressure, provide a framework in case of potential supply disruptions, and limit the extra profits in the sector.

"The cap should be applied to all wholesale natural gas transactions, and not limited to import from specific jurisdictions," they wrote, as previously EU talks only focused on putting a price cap on Russian gas.

The energy ministers also note that the price cap can be designed in such a way as to ensure security of supply and the free flow of gas within Europe, while achieving member states' shared objective to reduce gas demand.

They have thus urged Simson to present them with a proposal on the matter at the extraordinary meeting of the Energy Council, which is to take place on Friday.

According to EU sources, the number of signatories is not final yet, but Slovenia's Infrastructure Minister Bojan Kumer is one of them. For now, 12-13 out of 27 member states are said to have signed the letter.

Meanwhile, France, Hungary and the Netherlands strongly oppose the price cap.

The Commission said in a press release it had not received the letter yet.