QAZAQ GREEN.  The European Commission is preparing a package of emergency and structural measures in response to the energy crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced following a dedicated orientation debate among EU commissioners.

In just 44 days since the conflict began, the bloc's fossil fuel import bill has risen by more than €22 billion — without a single additional unit of energy to show for it. "This shows the enormous impact this crisis has on our economy," von der Leyen said, warning that even if hostilities ceased immediately, disruptions to Gulf energy supplies would persist for some time.

Full details of the response plan will be set out in a Commission communication next week, ahead of an informal European Council summit in Cyprus.

Among the immediate measures under consideration are EU-wide coordination of gas storage filling and oil stock releases, designed to prevent member states from competing against each other on energy markets and driving up prices. Consultations with member states on more flexible state aid rules will begin this week, with von der Leyen aiming to adopt a new temporary state aid framework before the end of April to support the most exposed sectors.

On the demand side, the Commission is exploring energy efficiency levers — including building renovations and upgrades to industrial equipment. "The least expensive energy is the energy we do not use," von der Leyen said.

On structural reform, legislative proposals to overhaul electricity taxes and grid charges will be presented in May, while a full review of the EU Emissions Trading System is expected in July.

Von der Leyen framed accelerated electrification as the bloc's strategic answer to its fossil fuel vulnerability. Renewables and nuclear already account for more than 70% of EU electricity generation, but vast volumes of clean power remain unused due to inadequate grid infrastructure and storage capacity. The Commission intends to present an electrification strategy — including an ambitious new electrification target — before the summer, and is pushing co-legislators to approve the Grids package by early summer. An investment conference will also be convened to mobilise private capital for grids, storage and clean energy infrastructure.