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Date Published: 14/04/2026

EU launches emergency energy measures to address fuel crisis

Spain's fuel tax cuts are under the microscope as Brussels races to agree emergency energy measures before a crunch summit in Cyprus

The European Commission has announced a package of emergency energy measures in response to the growing economic impact of the Iran conflict, with President Ursula von der Leyen warning that the crisis is already hitting Europe hard and that further disruption is inevitable even if hostilities end tomorrow.

Speaking to reporters, Ms von der Leyen revealed that the EU has spent an extra €22 billion on fossil fuels during just 44 days of war, with nothing to show for it in terms of additional energy supply.

"This shows the enormous impact that war is having on our economy," she said.

"Even if hostilities cease immediately, energy disruptions in the Gulf will persist for some time."

The measures, which Brussels plans to present in full next Wednesday ahead of an informal EU leaders' summit in Cyprus on April 23 and 24, are described as temporary and focused on coordination between member states. Among the most immediate priorities is a joint approach to filling gas reserves for next winter, with Ms von der Leyen warning that without coordination, individual countries risk "entering the market simultaneously and ending up competing with each other."

A coordinated release of oil reserves is also on the table if needed.

The Commission is also proposing more flexible state aid rules to give governments greater room to support vulnerable sectors.

Longer-term proposals include reducing energy demand through building and industrial equipment renovation, as well as further adjustments to the EU's carbon emissions trading system ahead of a full review in July.

One area where Brussels is drawing a clear line is national energy subsidies. Spain's decision to cut the tax on diesel and petrol from 21% to 10% has been specifically flagged as the kind of measure that needs careful handling. The Commission isn't opposed to fuel tax reductions in principle, but Economic Affairs Commissioner Vladis Dombrovskis cautioned last week that they must remain strictly temporary.

"There is some tension between the immediate relief that energy tax reductions can provide and the medium and long-term objectives," he said, calling on member states to take "balanced" steps.

The Strait of Hormuz remains central to all of this. Ms Von der Leyen described its closure as "extremely damaging" and insisted that any resolution must address concerns about Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes as well as the obstruction of navigation in the area. She called for stronger cooperation between EU member states and their Gulf partners.

Adding to the diplomatic momentum, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that an international conference will be convened "in the coming days" to work on unblocking the strait, organised jointly with the United Kingdom and partly in response to pressure from the Trump administration for European allies to find solutions to the crisis.

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