Commission proposes actions to protect Europeans from the fossil energy crisis and accelerate the shift to clean, homegrown energy

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

For the second time in less than five years, Europeans are paying the price of Europe’s dependency on imported fossil fuels. AccelerateEU is the Commission’s toolbox to bring immediate relief to European households and industries, especially the most vulnerable ones, while putting Europe on a steady pathway to energy independence. Since the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, the EU has spent an additional €24 billion on energy imports due to higher prices – without receiving a single extra molecule of energy.

The current geopolitical situation is a stark reminder that accelerating the transition to clean, secure and affordable energy is an economic and security imperative. ‘AccelerateEU’ presents both short-term and structural measures with longer-term effect to further reduce dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets and build Europe’s resilience against future risks based on homegrown clean energy and electrification.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said : “The choices we make today will shape our ability to face the challenges of today and the crises of tomorrow. Our AccelerateEU strategy will bring both immediate and more structural relief measures to European citizens and businesses. We must accelerate the shift to homegrown, clean energies. This will give us energy independence and security, and mean we are better able to weather geopolitical storms.”

The Commission proposes the following actions:

Coordination is key. The Commission will ensure that measures at Member State level will be done in full coordination. This includes refilling of underground gas storages, use of flexibilities in filling rules, or any exceptional releases of oil stocks. Oil and Gas Coordination groups meet frequently to ensure full situational awareness among Member States. National emergency measures and measures aimed at ensuring the availability of jet fuel and diesel, including the availability of oil refinery production capacities, should be closely coordinated.

A new Fuel Observatory will be established to track EU production, imports, exports and stock levels of transport fuels. This will enable swift identification of potential shortages and, in the case of emergency stock releases, inform targeted measures to maintain balanced fuel distribution. To mitigate the impact of high fuel prices and possible fuel shortages on the EU aviation sector, the Commission will also provide clarity on existing flexibilities within the EU aviation framework.

Timely, targeted and temporary measures. Protecting consumers, including industry, from price peaks can include targeted income support schemes, energy vouchers and social leasing schemes, lowering excise duties on electricity for vulnerable households. The Commission will also adopt a State Aid Temporary Framework, which will provide additional flexibility for national governments, including emergency measures to support the most exposed economic sectors.

Accelerating the shift to homegrown clean energy to replace oil, gas and fossil transport fuels. By the summer, the Commission will present an Electrification Action Plan. It will include an ambitious electrification target and measures to remove barriers to the electrification of the industrial, transport and building sectors. Swift implementation of the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan is key to accelerate the rollout of sustainable aviation fuels.

Stepping up the grids system. Electrification needs to be accompanied by a grid network which is fit for purpose. First steps are ensuring that current legislation is fully implemented and the negotiations on the European Grids Package are concluded swiftly. Maximising existing renewable energy infrastructure is another action. Rapid repowering of big wind farms and renewable plants, including offshore wind parks and hydropower plants can quickly deliver much needed additional relief. The Commission will also present a legislative proposal on network charges and taxation, ensuring among others electricity is taxed less than fossil fuels.

Boosting investments. Significant resources are available at EU level, such as those under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (‘RRF’: €219 billion) and cohesion policy funds. In the current crisis, speed and impact are paramount. The Commission will assist Member States to make maximum use of available EU funding. However, public money alone will not cover the significant investment needs (€660 billion a year until 2030) for the energy transition. To mobilise private investments, the Commission therefore adopted a Clean Energy Investment Strategy in March 2026. The Commission will organise a Clean Energy Investment Summit bringing together the financial services industry, including major institutional investors, industrial leaders, project developers and public financiers to accelerate private financing.

Background

Today’s AccelerateEU Communication responds to the request by EU heads of government at the March 19 European Council  to present “a toolbox of targeted temporary measures to address the recent spikes in the prices of imported fossil fuels arising from the crisis in the Middle East”.  It is one part of the Commission’s dynamic response, which will evolve as the situation develops. The measures will be discussed by EU leaders at the Informal European Council in Cyprus on April 23-24.   

For more information

AccelerateEU – Energy Union – affordable and secure energy through accelerated action

Questions and Answers

Factsheet

Webpage: AccelerateEU to strengthen EU energy resilience