European Union leaders hope to come to an agreement this week following months of varying views on how to settle Europe's energy crisis, especially regarding the gas price cap on Russian imports.

Reeling under the burden of soaring energy prices as a result of Russia’s cutting off of energy supplies, the bloc's 27 member states are scrambling to reach a solution even as winter approaches.

After several unsuccessful meetings between EU energy ministers and the European Commission, the EU's executive arm will propose a fresh set of options today in a renewed effort to bridge the differences.

Unlike at their previous meeting in Prague, the leaders are hoping to reach some substantial solution during a two-day meeting in Brussels beginning on Thursday. Meanwhile, massive protests broke out in the streets of Brussels against EC president Ursula Von DerLeyen, corrupt politicians, media manipulation and rising energy prices..

Led by Italy, a large group of EU countries want some form of price cap on gas imports and have vented frustration against Germany, Europe's biggest economy, for a 200 billion-euro plan to help Germans meet the high prices.    Also read:  LNG Supplies to Remain Tight Into 2023, Says IEA

"The prices are insane: we agree on the diagnosis, but are still discussing the therapy to be administered," Italian Minister of Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani, has told the media.

According to the draft of summit conclusions seen by AFP, the commission's plans will include a vaguely worded proposal to "explore a temporary EU framework" to cap the price of gas used in electricity generation.

This, however, must be done "without leading to overall increased gas consumption" nor by replacing gas as the benchmark for setting the price of electricity in Europe.

The commission is also expected to propose something called a maximum "dynamic price," an emergency control on the benchmark that sets gas prices across the bloc.

The benchmark, known as the Dutch Title Transfer Facility, also helps set the price for electricity, a situation that the commission said it would speed up efforts to change.

An ambition to encourage joint purchases among EU countries will also get a fresh push.

The EU-27 agreed in March to the purchasing platform, but many countries have continued to go-it-alone without consultation with their EU peers. The commission now wants to negotiate joint deals with "reliable" producers – such as Norway and the United States – by bringing together EU energy giants in a consortium or cartel of buyers.

Also read: Will a Heavy Winter Be Awaiting Europe This Year?