Because the conflict in the Middle East is heavily impacting global energy markets, with a knock-on effect on the economy, industry and households, the Commission is taking specific action with notable measures in relation to the transport sector. To ensure sufficient availability of transport fuels and preserve the effective functioning of the single market, the Commission will step up European coordination on the optimisation of fuel distribution across Member States.

The Commission will establish a Fuel Observatory, tracking EU production, imports, exports and stock levels of transport fuels. This will enable swift identification of potential shortages and inform targeted measures to maintain a balanced fuel distribution across all regions and airports.

To mitigate the impact of possible fuel shortages on the EU aviation sector, the Commission will provide clarity on existing flexibilities within the EU aviation framework to address the consequences of flight cancellations and other disruptions. The Commission is also committed to further driving the uptake of EU-produced sustainable aviation fuels and sustainable maritime fuels.

More immediate support may be needed due to the pressure on fossil fuel imports and volatile energy prices. Such support should be targeted, timely and temporary and they should be tied to longer-term solutions.

The Commission is working intensively with Member States, regulators and industry to gather timely information necessary for an effective, coordinated, EU-wide response. Coordination Groups on oil and gas now take place on a weekly basis. Chaired by the Commission, the two fora are well-placed for exchanges of information, for instance, on stocks, refining capacity and alternative import routes, across the EU.

The Commission is collecting national data on available oil stocks and market conditions to provide an EU-wide regional assessment of the situation, as mandated by Energy Ministers at the extraordinary Transport Telecommunications and Energy Council of 31 March.