EU Launches Emergency Energy Measures as Iran War Costs Europe €22 Billion in Just 44 Days

€22 Billion in 44 Days

The European Commission has announced a package of emergency energy measures in response to the Iran conflict, with President Ursula von der Leyen warning that the EU has already spent an extra €22 billion on fossil fuels during just 44 days of war — with nothing to show for it in terms of additional supply.

"This shows the enormous impact that war is having on our economy," she said. "Even if hostilities cease immediately, energy disruptions in the Gulf will persist for some time."

What's Being Proposed?

The measures, to be presented in full next Wednesday ahead of an EU leaders' summit in Cyprus on April 23-24, include:

• Joint gas reserve filling — to prevent countries competing against each other on the market and driving prices up further
• Coordinated release of oil reserves if needed
• More flexible state aid rules — giving governments greater room to support vulnerable sectors
• Reducing energy demand — through building and industrial equipment renovation
• Adjustments to the EU carbon emissions trading system ahead of a full review in July

Spain's Fuel Tax Cut Under the Microscope

Spain's decision to cut VAT on diesel and petrol from 21% to 10% has been specifically flagged by Brussels. The Commission isn't opposed to fuel tax reductions in principle, but Economic Affairs Commissioner Vladis Dombrovskis cautioned they must remain strictly temporary.

"There is some tension between the immediate relief that energy tax reductions can provide and the medium and long-term objectives," he said.

Strait of Hormuz: 'Extremely Damaging'

Von der Leyen described the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as "extremely damaging" and called for stronger EU cooperation with Gulf partners. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced an international conference "in the coming days" to work on unblocking the strait, organised jointly with the UK.

What This Means for Spain

For residents and expats in Spain, the EU measures could mean continued support for lower fuel prices in the short term — but Brussels is clearly signalling that Spain's VAT cut can't last forever. Energy bills, transport costs and the broader cost of living remain under pressure as long as the conflict continues to disrupt global oil and gas flows.

This article is based on reporting from Spanish News Today, published April 14, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only.