The European Union is preparing for a long-term energy shock caused by the war in the Middle East and is exploring all possible measures to ensure energy security, including fuel rationing and additional use of strategic oil reserves. This was stated by EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen in an interview with the Financial Times.
According to him, the crisis will be long-term, and energy prices will remain elevated “for a very long time.” For some critical products such as diesel and aviation fuel, the situation could worsen within the coming weeks.
“This will be a long crisis… We must prepare for worst-case scenarios,” Jørgensen stressed.
Earlier, on March 31, at an emergency meeting of EU energy ministers, the Commissioner called on member states to coordinate efforts and actively reduce demand for petroleum products, particularly in the transport sector. Possible voluntary measures include switching to remote work, reducing travel, using public transport, imposing speed limits on motorways, and even “car-free Sundays,” as in the 1970s. Some countries (such as Slovenia) have already begun introducing elements of fuel rationing at petrol stations.
Since the start of the Middle East conflict, gas prices in the EU have risen by around 70%, and oil prices by 60–70%. This has already led to an additional €14 billion in energy import costs. While there is no direct supply shortage in the EU yet, serious pressure is being felt in the diesel and jet fuel markets due to disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
The European Commission emphasises that supply security is currently guaranteed, but the bloc must be prepared for a prolonged disruption to international energy trade. Options under consideration include a return to measures used during the 2022 energy crisis, as well as additional releases of oil from strategic reserves.
Jørgensen urged EU countries to avoid fragmented national responses that could worsen the situation — such as subsidising consumption or restricting cross-border trade in petroleum products. Instead, the emphasis is on joint action and conservation.
For now, the focus is primarily on voluntary measures and contingency planning, but the Commissioner did not explicitly rule out a shift to stricter rationing should the crisis deepen.