The oil crisis sparked by the US-Israel war on Iran will not be short-lived, warns the Brussels official, making the need for EU-wide energy independence paramount.
Speaking at the informal meeting of EU energy ministers on 31 March 2026, EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen emphasised the importance of building the bloc’s capacity for renewable energy in the midst of a worsening energy crisis, citing a “fundamental vulnerability to external energy shocks” due to its’ dependence on imported fossil fuels.
This energy dependency has a cost, according to Jørgensen. Since the US-Israel war on Iran began, €14bn has been added to the EU’s fossil fuels import bill, with oil and gas prices in the EU soaring up to 70%.
“Action in unity”, and the way forward
“We should be under no illusion that the consequences of this crisis for the energy markets will be short-lived,” remarks Jørgensen.
To that end, he further cautioned against fragmented national responses, highlighting the need for coordination and unity among EU member states.
The path ahead, he noted, is energy independence — not only as a solution to climate change, but as a “strategic imperative”. Clean, domestic energy, electrification, and modernised interconnections will be crucial, both economically and for national and continent-wide security.
Europeans urged to travel less
Jørgensen has also implored Europeans to conserve fuel by travelling less, or more efficiently, reports Politico, echoing earlier advice from the International Energy Agency. This includes working from home, car sharing or using public transport, as well as flying less.
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