Joint statement on measures to enhance the Union’s security of energy supply

We recognize the European Commission’s “AccelerateEU – Energy Union” Communication as a timely and necessary step towards strengthening the resilience, coordination and flexibility of Europe’s energy system in a context of geopolitical uncertainty.
We appreciate the continued and constructive engagement between the European Commission and the industry through ad-hoc meetings and established fora (Gas Coordination Group, Oil Coordination Group). Sustained dialogue between regulators and operators is essential to ensure effective and realistic policymaking, and should be maintained on a structured basis beyond these periods of crisis.

We particularly welcome the Commission’s recognition of the need for greater flexibility in the implementation of gas storage targets¹.

To maximise price relief, flexibilities should be activated by the Commission and Member States as soon as possible, early in the storage season.

At the same time, it is essential that any emergency measure remains targeted, temporary and proportionate. Initiatives such as demand aggregation or diversification approaches should remain voluntary in nature and must not distort wholesale price signals. Clear and credible price signals are indispensable to attract natural gas, and crude oil supplies in global markets, particularly in a tightening market characterised by intense competition for LNG cargoes, including by Asian buyers².

Accelerate EU addresses demand-side measures extensively, but provides limited attention to supply-side challenges, notably the potential difficulties in securing sufficient natural gas and crude oil volumes, should the crisis persist. Against this backdrop, we stress the importance of maintaining a strong and well-functioning energy market. The policy framework should provide clear, positive signals to market participants, enabling them to procure necessary supplies for European consumers, notably through revised future gas demand scenarios in the Security of Supply framework.

We stress that the EU Methane Regulation (EUMR), in its current form, risks undermining the Union’s energy security of supply, especially under current geopolitical and market conditions. Despite the Commission’s efforts to provide guidance, their non-binding nature, create a material risk of inconsistent implementation and do not address the underlying structural and operational gaps related to importer requirements.

We, together with more than 70 organizations, continue to call for targeted amendments to the EUMR, including “stop the clock” – without compromising the ambition of the Regulation.

While we welcome the creation of a Fuel Observatory, we call for the European Commission to maintain close collaboration with the refining industry to assess EU refining capacity optimisation and output maximisation. European refineries are already operating close to technical and economic limits, while product yields are not fully flexible.

We caution against over-optimisation which risks delaying needed maintenance works and cause long-term capacity degradation. Operational decisions affecting refineries, including potential interventions on product yields or sourcing, require careful alignment with technical realities to ensure both feasibility and effectiveness.

At the same time, we note that the Communication minimises the essential role that gases, including renewable and low carbon, plays in ensuring energy security, grid stability, and industrial competitiveness. While electrification is an important vector of the energy transition, their integration should not be overlooked.

The European response to the 1970s oil shocks turned the North Sea into a major global production hub, demonstrating that developing indigenous resources can enhance security of supply, reduce external dependencies and support economic growth.

Looking ahead, strengthening Europe’s resilience should also include a renewed focus on the need to support and increase domestic production of crude oil, natural gas and other gases, including renewable and low carbon, and their derivatives.

This remains highly relevant today: as acknowledged by the IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2025, the EU is expected to demand 166 bcm of gas and 5.1 million barrels of crude oil per day in 2050, even under current climate targets. Europe still holds substantial untapped crude oil (9.7 billion BOE) and natural gas resources (2240 bcm)³, as well as a substantial biomethane production potential (111 bcm/y by 2040⁴) which could help strengthen its energy security.

The accelerated deployment of renewable and low-carbon gases - including biomethane and hydrogen - must shift from ambition to concrete commitment. In this instance, the accelerated review of the RFNBO Delegated Act is a necessary step.

The acceleration of European biomethane production also warrants concrete measures, including the full operationalization of the Union Database and the timely adoption of the necessary secondary legislation.
A balanced approach supporting both secure supply and competitive industry remains essential: Europe cannot afford demand destruction as a structural response. We stand ready to continue engaging constructively with the Commission and Member States, bringing industry expertise to support European energy security and a strong European industrial base.

Sources

1 To fill EU gas storage at the 90% level, the EU would need 86 bcm of LNG imports; additional volumes (approx. 6 bcm) in case of a halt in Russian pipeline gas; full use of existing infrastructure flexibility, which is sufficient but not a given, provided that adequate gas supplies are secured. Source: ENTSOG - ACER.

2 Source: IOGP Europe’s Data room – Europe/Asia LNG dynamics.

3 Source: IOGP Europe’s Data room – European oil and natural gas reserves and resources.

4 Source: EBA and Gas for Climate – Biogases towards 2040 and beyond

Signatories