The Commission gave its response to US President Donald Trump's statements on Thursday about considering the possibility of restricting US diesel exports, as concern grows not only about prices, but also about sufficiency, as Europe is a major importer of American diesel.
Commission spokesmen were asked today, during the traditional press conference, whether the European Commission has a contingency plan for such a case and whether there has been any diplomatic approach to Trump.
As European Commission spokesman Olaf Gill stressed, "the EU is concerned about reports of US plans to ban diesel exports, including exports to the European Union", pointing out that "any disruption could have negative consequences for both sides".
He underlined that high-level contacts between the European Union and the US government are ongoing, saying that the Commission expects close partners to consult with each other before taking measures that affect common markets.
Anna-Kaiza Itkonen, the Commission's spokesperson for energy, stressed the importance of US diesel imports to Europe. "We are a major importer of American diesel. Our imports amount to about 50%, according to the latest percentages of August. The US is an important supplier for us, both in terms of diesel and LNG. This is clearly part of our diversification strategy from 2022 onwards."
She stressed that the Commission is closely monitoring markets and security of supply, in cooperation with member states, and underlined that "at the moment, there is no specific shortage of diesel in the European Union".
The EU Coordination Group on Natural Gas started a meeting early in the afternoon, with the meeting being held online and with the participation of representatives of all member states, as well as experts, while the Oil Coordination Group will meet again next Tuesday to assess the situation in the member states.
