The European Commission is preparing a new platform for the aggregation of energy products and joint purchases, as well as a strategic dialogue with the European refining industry in response to the energy crisis aggravated by the war in Iran.
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08/10/2026
by
Lusa
A The European Commission is preparing a new platform to aggregate energy products and conduct joint purchases, and is also creating a strategic dialogue with the European refining industry to respond to the energy crisis aggravated by the war in Iran.
“ On the short-term announcements [...] the aggregation of demand is one of them and will be for energy products and not just for gas,” said the spokesperson of the EU Energy Executive, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, speaking at the daily press conference of the institution in Brussels.
“As regards the aggregation of demand at EU level, we already have a good basis, as we have a model for the aggregation of demand that was successfully used when it was created in 2022, but now [...] we want to take it to the next level,” she added.
Anna-Kaisa Itkonen also reported a “strategic dialogue with the refinery industry”, which her view represents “an important factor” that has “impact and play a role in energy prices in Europe”.
In addition to covering the protection of energy, this strategic dialogue will be conducted in cooperation with defence, as “the military and defence industry is an important consumer of diesel in Europe, and it is important that this aspect should also be reflected in the talks,” he said.
“ I do not have a date for the start of this dialogue, but, once again, it is something that the two structures – the Directorate-General for Energy and the Directorate-General for the Defence and Space Industry – are now examining, and we hope to be able to give more details in due time”, reinforced the spokesman.
As for the technical and practical details, “it is precisely these issues that we will have to address later, when there is a discussion between the experts and before we establish what is actually the best way forward,” said the person responsible.
Still, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen pointed out: “As far as refineries and refining industry are concerned and the role they play in providing and ensuring that EU countries and Member States have sufficient quantities of diesel, it is important to have a full view of the situation, in addition to the measures and instruments we already have, including, for example, the Oil Coordination Group.”.
The initiative thus translates into an “additional layer, in a situation like this, to ensure a continuous and high-level dialogue with industry representatives,” he said.
The position arises after, on Tuesday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warned that the pressure on energy prices could worsen with the arrival of winter.
For this reason, Ursula von der Leyen announced the creation of a working group to pool energy demand in the EU, which is “very fragmented”, and a strategic dialogue on European refineries.
Initiatives arise in a context of strong pressure on European energy markets following the war with Iran and disturbances in energy transport, particularly in the Strait of Ormuz.
Brussels has been pointing out that the EU's oil supply remains stable despite high fuel prices, reflecting the shortage on world markets.
Since late February gas prices have increased by 140%, while diesel prices have doubled.
In all, imported fossil fuels have cost the EU EUR 100 billion more since the start of the war with Iran caused by the US and Israeli attacks.