European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas said the European Union could convene an extraordinary meeting of ministers if the energy crisis worsens further, warning of growing risks to the economy and transport sector.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU infrastructure and transport ministers in Dublin, Tzitzikostas described the current energy crisis as unprecedented and said developments in energy markets required close monitoring.
Commissioner warns of market volatility
Tzitzikostas said the situation remained highly volatile, not only in crude oil prices but also in the pricing and availability of aviation fuel.
He warned that the crisis posed significant risks to the global economy and indicated that urgent action could become necessary if conditions deteriorate further.
"If the situation with the energy crisis worsens further, I will call for an extraordinary Council of EU Ministers in order to take urgent measures," he said.
Focus on short- and long-term solutions
The commissioner said Europe needed to protect its interests both in the immediate term and over the longer term.
"We must protect Europe's interests in the long term, but above all in the short term," Tzitzikostas said.
He said longer-term measures should include reducing energy dependencies, particularly on imported fossil fuels, strengthening cooperation with alternative and reliable partners and promoting innovation.
"Sustainable mobility, investment in high-speed rail networks, electrification and increased use of reliable public transport are priorities," he said.
Call for urgent action
Tzitzikostas said the EU must also assess its resilience to future energy shocks and move quickly to implement practical responses.
"But we must examine what Europe's resilience means in crises like these and we must do it now. We have no time to lose. We need concrete measures for the situation we are facing today," he said.
"If the situation in transport deteriorates further, I will request an extraordinary Council of Ministers so that we can take urgent measures," he added.
Source: AMNA
