The European Commission has presented a set of tools under the “AccelerateEU” initiative, aimed at providing immediate support to European households and industry in response to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. To date, the EU has spent an additional €24 billion on energy imports due to higher prices, without receiving additional energy supplies in return.
The “AccelerateEU” initiative includes both short-term and structural measures with long-term impact. Its objective is to further reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and strengthen Europe’s resilience to future risks by relying on domestically produced clean energy and electrification.
Proposed actions:
Coordination
The Commission will ensure that measures at Member State level are implemented in full coordination. This includes refilling underground gas storage, making use of flexibilities in storage-filling rules, and any potential emergency releases of oil stocks. The Oil and Gas Coordination Groups will meet regularly to ensure full situational awareness among Member States.
National emergency measures, as well as actions aimed at ensuring the availability of jet fuel and diesel – including maintaining refinery production capacity – should be closely coordinated.
Fuel Observatory
A new Fuel Observatory will be established to monitor EU production, imports, exports, and stock levels of transport fuels. This will enable the rapid identification of potential shortages and, in the event of emergency stock releases, support targeted measures to maintain balanced fuel distribution.
To mitigate the impact of high fuel prices and potential shortages on the EU aviation sector, the Commission will also provide clarity on existing flexibilities within the EU aviation regulatory framework.
Timely, targeted and temporary measures
Protecting consumers, including industry, from price spikes may involve targeted income support schemes, energy vouchers, and social leasing schemes, as well as reductions in electricity excise duties for vulnerable households.
The Commission will also adopt a temporary State aid framework to provide additional flexibility to national governments, including emergency support for the most affected economic sectors.
Accelerating the transition to clean energy
The transition to domestically produced clean energy will be accelerated to replace oil, gas, and other fossil fuels, particularly in transport. By summer, the Commission will present an Electrification Action Plan, including ambitious targets and measures to remove barriers to electrification in industry, transport, and buildings.
Rapid implementation of the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan will be key to accelerating the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels.
Modernising the electricity grid
Electrification must be supported by an electricity grid that meets evolving needs. Priorities include full implementation of existing legislation and the swift conclusion of negotiations on the European Electricity Grids Package.
Efforts will focus on maximising the use of existing renewable energy infrastructure. Fast-track upgrading of large wind farms, including offshore installations, as well as hydropower plants, can quickly provide additional capacity.
The Commission will also present legislative proposals on network tariffs and taxation to ensure that electricity is taxed more favourably than fossil fuels.
Boosting investment
Significant EU-level financial resources are available, including the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), with a budget of €219 billion, and cohesion policy funds. In the current context, speed and impact are essential.
The Commission will support Member States in making full use of available EU funding. However, public funds alone will not be sufficient to cover the estimated €660 billion in annual investment needs for the energy transition until 2030.
To mobilise private investment, the Commission adopted a Clean Energy Investment Strategy in March 2026. A Clean Energy Investment Summit will also be convened, bringing together financial institutions, industrial leaders, project developers, and public financiers to accelerate private funding.
The Annex to the EU Communication encompasesses examples of good national practices that have been implemented, as well as types of measures to ensure immediate assistance.
