(BERLIN) - European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso has called on EU member states to stagger energy prices to help poor households, in an interview published on Sunday.

"EU states can ensure that low income groups do not have their electricity supply cut off and they should do so," Barroso told Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

He proposed that lower prices be introduced for those levels of energy consumption that cover basic household needs.

"Introducing a special tariff for energy use levels needed to cover basic requirements would be an example of a good solution," Barroso said.

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