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 €24bn on energy imports due to higher prices – without receiving any extra energy.
The Commission says that 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.
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.
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.
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.
Boosting investments. Significant resources are available at EU level, such as those under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (€219bn) 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 (€660bn 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.