Bruselas presiona a Donald Trump para mantener un 'flujo libre' de diésel

European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen has warned that Europe is facing its worst winter for energy prices since 2022. The EU energy chief urged Donald Trump to maintain a free flow of diesel after the US president threatened to cut the supply, highlighting that Europe has already experienced the worst winter in terms of energy prices since 2022.

Jørgensen told the Financial Times that both the US and Europe benefit from maintaining a free flow of energy between our countries. However, even with an uninterrupted supply of US diesel, this winter could be very, very bad for Europe and could be the worst since 2022, he cautioned. Diesel prices in Europe are close to historic highs.

Trump shook the market earlier this week by announcing he would back a ban on diesel exports, a move that operators warn would be catastrophic for Europe given that the US is its main supplier. While US Energy Secretary Chris Wright later questioned the wisdom of a total embargo, the threat represents the final challenge to Europe's energy security amid ongoing turmoil in the Middle East.

Natural gas prices in Europe recently hit their highest level since the 2022 crisis triggered by Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, while Brent crude continues to trade above $100 a barrel. Jørgensen explains that the European Commission is evaluating short-term measures to reduce the price of fossil fuels in the EU, following French President Emmanuel Macron's call for immediate measures, including delaying stricter conditions for methane imports and relaxing fuel refining standards.

Jørgensen does not comment on Macron's individual proposals but says: "He is right in his analysis... sometimes you have to postpone things or relax conditions, and this is also my general approach for the coming winter... without straying from our overall goals and ambitions." When asked specifically about a possible delay in the entry into force of new requirements for oil and gas importers to monitor and curb methane emissions, Jørgensen responds: "In the coming weeks and months, we will see the different levels of flexibility that the Member States have requested."

According to the Transport & Environment NGO, Europeans already pay more than €30 extra per diesel refill compared to the situation before the US-Iran war. However, the Trump administration is under pressure over domestic diesel prices ahead of the November midterm elections. If the US cuts supply, analysts warn prices would surge worldwide.

Jørgensen hopes to avoid such a scenario but wants to sound the alarm before the EU Energy Ministers' meeting in Dublin next week, urging members to reduce electricity taxes and invest more in renewables, taking advantage of the flexibility built into the Commission's tax rules. Italy and Greece have so far only reduced fuel taxes.

The most likely outcome is very, very high prices but no security of supply problems, he concludes. To those who cannot afford fuel, it doesn't matter if fuel is available or not if they cannot buy it. Jørgensen reiterates his previous warnings about the need for Europe to accelerate electrification to avoid future fuel-related crises.

The Commission has proposed doubling the EU's electrification rate to 46% by 2040 and introducing measures to tax electricity at a lower rate than gas. If we don't abandon our dependence on fossil fuels, I assure you we will have a permanent crisis, he adds.