EU braces for prolonged fuel shortages due to Gulf conflict, urges work from home
The European Commission has urged people to work from home due to the energy crisis amid the conflict in the Persian Gulf.
According to Censor.NET, this is reported in an article by Politico.
On Tuesday, March 31, an extraordinary meeting of the 27 EU energy ministers was held to discuss the crisis triggered by the war between the United States and Israel against Iran.
In his speech, Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen compared the current situation to the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and warned that Europe is facing "a very serious situation" with no end in sight.
"Even if peace comes tomorrow, we still won't be returning to normal life anytime soon. The more you can do to conserve oil—especially diesel and jet fuel—the better off we'll be," Johansen said.
The official urged Europeans:
- work from home whenever possible;
- lower speed limits on highways;
- promote public transportation and car-sharing;
- implement effective driving techniques.
At the same time, in the long term, Brussels is insisting on accelerating the development of renewable energy sources.
"This should be the moment when we finally turn the tide and become truly energy-independent," Jorgensen said.
According to the publication, the ministers' talks concluded without any specific decisions being made; however, the European Commission is expected to announce a package of measures at the EU level shortly.
Journalists note that the global economic consequences of this crisis could exceed those of the oil shock of the 1970s and rival the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What led up to
As reported, the Italian government has approved temporary measures to curb fuel prices. Specifically, the excise tax has been reduced for 20 days: by 25 cents per liter for gasoline and diesel, and by 12 cents for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
In addition, the government has introduced a tax exemption on diesel fuel for long-haul truck drivers and a 20% tax discount for fishing vessels, which will be in effect for three months—from March through May.
At the same time, Danish Minister of Energy and Utilities Lars Aagaard urged citizens to reduce their energy consumption and avoid traveling by car. These recommendations are prompted by the sharp rise in oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East.
