At an extraordinary informal meeting on Tuesday 21 April, the EU transport ministers put forward proposals to mitigate the economic impact of the war in the Middle East on this sector.
As indicated by the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council (see EUROPE 13852/8), the focus is on a coordinated Europe-wide response, continuity of fuel supply and strengthening the resilience of transport systems.
Targeted measures for the airline industry. During the meeting, several ministers also called for flexibility and appropriate support for the airline industry. According to our information, these flexibilities could relate to the rules on airport slots and certain provisions of the ‘ReFuelEU’ regulation.
As the rising cost of fuel continues to weigh on transport operators, airlines have repeatedly expressed concern about possible shortages between now and the summer of 2026 (see EUROPE 13846/6).
Speaking to the press, the European Commissioner for Transport, Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas, reiterated that the European Union was not facing any such shortages at the moment. “A number of flights have been cancelled, not because of a shortage of kerosene, but because of the high price of fuel”, he added.
AccelerateEU. Mr Tzitzikóstas also confirmed the creation of a ‘fuel observatory’ as part of the AccelerateEU crisis exit plan, which will be presented on Wednesday 22 April (see EUROPE 13849/2).
“This system will make it possible to monitor the supply and stock levels of transport fuels. And of course, we’ll be starting with kerosene”, he added.
The Commission is also working to diversify the EU’s sources of supply, for example by using type A kerosene produced in the United States.
Decarbonisation. Finally, the ministers stressed the importance of aligning short-term measures with the EU’s long-term objectives, i.e. reducing dependence on fossil fuels, accelerating electrification and the transition to alternative fuels.
These proposals, like the AccelerateEU plan, will be on the agenda for discussion between leaders at the extraordinary European summit in Cyprus on 23 and 24 April. (Original version in French by Juliette Verdes)