Italy has signed an informal 'non paper', calling for for a dynamic EU price cap on gas in a scenario in which there is gas on the market.
Poland, Greece and Belgium have also signed the document.
The proposal is for a "dynamic corridor" that it would be possible to set a central value for, and this would be regularly revised on the basis of external parameters (such as the price of crude oil) and would allow fluctuations (of up to 5 per cent, for example).
On Thursday, the ecological transition ministry also signed a decree introducing new limits and new times for gas heating over the coming winter to help Italy cope with the energy crisis.
Heating will be limited in both settings and times in many public and private buildings, the decree said.
There will be exceptions for hospitals, nurseries, swimming pools and some other industries.
