Energy price inflation: how the UK and EU could fight it

What can be done on rising prices - and would nationalising gas and electricity firms help?

Governments across Europe have been funding pain relief measures to help with energy and petrol bills. The UK announced a 15bn package in May, largely in the form of cash payments to households, while EU member states are estimated to have spent 280bn (243m) over the past year on everything from subsidies and price caps to one-off payments. But bills for households and businesses are reaching unsustainable levels, with further increases expected next year, sharpening the debate over whether ministers should be intervening directly in energy markets to help bring prices down.

As Russia threatens to further reduce gas supplies, politicians in Italy, Spain, Greece and the Czech Republic are among those pushing for coordinated action. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Monday Brussels was considering a measures to be adopted by the 27 member states. What are the options?