The European Union is considering reactivating a number of energy measures first deployed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as it seeks to contain a fresh price shock linked to the war surrounding Iran.
Dan Jorgensen, the EU’s energy commissioner, said there were no immediate risks to oil and gas supplies. But markets for refined products—including diesel and jet fuel—are tightening, pushing prices higher. He said the European Commission would soon present legislative proposals aimed at limiting the rise in energy costs.
Asked whether Brussels might return to the measures used after the Russian invasion—including emergency demand curbs, windfall taxes and price caps—Jorgensen said: “Those are indeed among the tools we are considering.”
“Even if peace were to arrive tomorrow—we still would not return to normality in the foreseeable future,” he added. “The 2022 crisis was primarily a gas crisis, whereas now we are facing a much broader range of problems.”
These remarks, delivered after an emergency videoconference of energy ministers, reflect growing concern across Europe that the energy shock gripping Asia is beginning to spread westward. In a letter sent this week to EU member states, Jorgensen urged governments to adopt energy-saving measures, particularly in the transport sector.
During the energy crisis that followed Russia’s invasion, the EU passed laws that made it possible to cut gas demand by 15%. A large share of that reduction was achieved through lower industrial output in response to high prices—a consequence from which the bloc’s economy has yet to recover fully. At the time, Brussels also imposed a cap on gas prices and a windfall tax on energy companies.
Although Europe is not heavily reliant on gas supplies from the Middle East, it is still forced to compete on global markets for alternative resources. The supply glut expected in the coming years has been thrown into doubt after an attack on a key facility in Qatar—the world’s largest—whose restoration could take up to five years.
At the same time, uncertainty over the course of the war remains high. President Donald Trump criticized allies, including France, for what he described as insufficient support in the confrontation with Iran. In a social-media post, he urged countries such as Britain to “drill your own oil.”
According to Jorgensen, the conflict surrounding Iran has already raised the EU’s fossil-fuel import bill by €14 billion. He also urged member states to refrain from steps that could stimulate energy demand by lowering prices for consumers.
“The pressure on the global market is clearly the central source of the problem—and the factor that makes it so acute,” Jorgensen said. “Every day, we are doing everything possible to limit these negative consequences for Europe.”